Metasearching a plurality of queries and consolidating results

ABSTRACT

A process and system for metasearching on a distributed network activated by a request executed by a user on a client device to request a metasearch engine to send a plurality of search queries to a plurality of search engines the request specifying to which of the plurality of search engines each of the plurality of search queries specified in the request by the user is to be sent to, each of the plurality of search queries comprising a keyword phrase, each of the keyword phrases comprising at least one keyword specified in the request by the user, at least two of the keyword phrases of the plurality of search queries being different from each other, comprising incorporating, by the metasearch engine, received search results into at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases, and communicating a response to the client device.

This application is the National Stage of International Application No. PCT/US01/05926, filed Feb. 22, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,749, filed Feb. 22, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,073.

CROSS-REFERENCES

The present application is related to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/934,627, filed Sep. 3, 2004, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,749, filed Feb. 22, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,073. The present application is also related to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/023,809, filed Dec. 28, 2004, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/791,264, filed Feb. 22, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,836,769, which is a continuation-in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,749, filed Feb. 22, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,073. The present application is also related to Canadian Patent Application No. 2,400,926, filed Aug. 20, 2002, now Canadian Patent No. CA 2,400,926, which is the Canadian National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/US01/05926, filed Feb. 22, 2001, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,749, filed Feb. 22, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,073. The present application is also related to copending Australian Patent Application No. 2001241718, filed Sep. 19, 2002, which is the Australian National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/US01/05926, filed Feb. 22, 2001, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,749, filed Feb. 22, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,073. The present application is also related to copending European Patent Application No. EP20010912999, filed Sep. 16, 2002, which is the European Regional Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/US01/05926, filed Feb. 22, 2001, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/510,749, filed Feb. 22, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,073. The above referenced documents are not admitted to be prior art with respect to the present invention by their mention herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to clients and servers and more particularly to client-server multitasking.

2. Background Art

Clients, servers, and client-server systems have been known. However, there is a need for client-server multitasking. A client-server multitasking system and process are needed, which are capable of information and/or service retrieval from the same and/or different ones of servers substantially simultaneously and on-the-fly, using the same and/or different ones of queries, and sorting, grouping, and/or organizing responses therefrom substantially on-the-fly.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a client-server multitasking system and process capable of information and/or service retrieval from the same and/or different ones of servers substantially simultaneously and on-the-fly, using the same and/or different ones of queries of the same and/or different ones of the servers, and sorting, grouping, and/or organizing responses therefrom substantially on-the-fly, and communicating service and/or information responses to the requesters and/or users substantially simultaneously and on-the-fly. The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of use on a variety of networks, such as global area networks, and in particular, the internet, metropolitan area networks, wide area networks, and local area networks, and are capable of searching search engines and/or other sites substantially simultaneously and on-the-fly.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of retrieving substantially multiple simultaneous services and/or information having the same and/or different criteria from the same and/or different servers, sorting, grouping, and/or organizing the responses from the servers and/or the clients into information and/or services responses, and communicating the service and/or information responses to the requesters and/or the users substantially simultaneously. The requesters and/or the users may make substantially simultaneous service and/or information requests of servers and clients, using the same and/or different queries, and/or the same and/or different instructions. The same and/or different uniform resource locators, target resources, and/or paths may be used.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of making multiple substantially simultaneous same and/or different requests of the same and/or different servers, organizing responses from the servers into service and/or information responses, and communicating the service and/or information responses to the requesters and/or the users substantially simultaneously.

The client-server multitasking system and process are also capable of sorting, grouping, and/or organizing results from the servers, search engines, and/or sites, in accordance with instructions from the requesters and/or the users, and/or instructions resident within the client-server multitasking system and/or process. The client-server multitasking system is capable of use in a variety of applications, and is capable of information comparison and/or trend analysis of information from the same and/or different sources substantially simultaneously. The client-server multitasking system and process are also capable of building a client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database from responses returned from the servers, search engines, and/or sites being queried and/or searched, and/or having requests made thereof, are capable of being searched and/or queried, querying sites referenced in the client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database, and updating information and/or services stored therein.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of information and/or service retrieval from the same and/or different ones of servers substantially simultaneously and on-the-fly, using the same and/or different ones of queries, and sorting, grouping, and/or organizing responses therefrom substantially on-the-fly.

A requester and/or user is capable of making substantially multiple simultaneous same and/or different requests of the same and/or different servers. The client server-multitasking system and process are capable of organizing responses from the servers into service and/or information responses, and communicating the service and/or information responses to the requesters and/or the users substantially simultaneously, and on-the-fly.

The requesters and/or users are capable of making substantially simultaneous service and/or information requests of the same and/or different ones of servers and/or clients, using the same and/or different queries, and/or the same and/or different instructions. The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of retrieving substantially multiple simultaneous services and/or information having the same and/or different criteria from the same and/or different servers, sorting, grouping, and/or organizing the responses from the servers and/or the clients into information and/or services responses, and communicating the service and/or information responses to the requesters and/or the users substantially simultaneously. The same and/or different ones of uniform resource locators, target resources, and/or paths may be used.

The requesters and/or users are capable of making multiple simultaneous searches. The searches may have at least one or a plurality of same or different queries of the same and/or different servers and/or clients. The responses from the servers and/or the clients may be of being organized into the service and/or information response in a variety of formats. The responses may be sorted within the service and/or information response, such as, for example, by category, query, group, page, order of importance, ascending and/or descending order, alphabetically and/or numerically, or other characteristics, as determined by the requester, and/or the user, and/or the client-server multitasking system, and/or the responses may be combined within the service and/or information response, such as, for example, interleaving the responses one with the other, such as, for example, by order of relevance or other parameters. The responses may also be capable of being grouped by search criteria, server, order of importance, or by numerical factors such as value, price, or other numerical quantifier. The responses may be presentable, for example, in ascending or descending order in interleaved format, such as top ones, twos, threes, and so on, or presentable separately to the requester and/or the user. The order may be order of importance or relevance related, or, for example, numerically valued, such as price or stock market value.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of information and/or service retrieval from the same and/or different ones of the servers substantially simultaneously and on-the-fly, using the same and/or different ones of the queries, and sorting, grouping, and/or organizing responses therefrom substantially on-the-fly.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of substantially multiple simultaneous searching, using the same and/or different ones of queries of the same and/or different ones of the clients and/or servers, which may be search engines, and/or sites, and/or servers, and/or locations on the network, and additionally and/or alternatively building a client-server multitasking search engine and/or database. The client-server multitasking search engine and/or database are capable of storing the information and/or services retrieved from the search engines, and/or sites, and/or servers, and/or locations being queried on the network, and building the client-server search engine and/or database. The client-server multitasking search engine is also capable of being queried either directly and/or in combination with the substantially simultaneous searching, using the same and/or different queries of the same and/or different search engines, sites, servers, and/or databases. The client-server multitasking search engine and/or database are also capable of updating information and/or services stored therein by querying sites, servers, search engines, and/or databases containing information and/or services referenced in the client-server multitasking search engine and/or database.

The client-server multitasking system and process are also capable of use on a variety of networks, such as global area networks, and in particular, the internet, metropolitan area networks, wide area networks, and local area networks.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of substantially simultaneous searching of the same and/or different ones of search engines and/or sites on the network substantially on-the-fly, with the same and/or different ones of the queries, and sorting, grouping, and/or organizing responses therefrom substantially on-the-fly.

The client-server multitasking system and process are also capable of sorting, grouping, and/or organizing results from the servers, search engines, and/or sites, in accordance with instructions from the requesters, and/or instructions resident within the client-server multitasking system and/or process. The client-server multitasking system and process are also capable of drilling down and/or up to different levels within the search engines, sites, and/or servers being queried.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of providing manual and/or timed updates. Such timed updates allow for motion related presentation to the requestor and/or the user.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of incorporating information and/or services into a variety of user interfaces at different locations in the user interfaces, grouping, and/or organizing the information and/or services, and optionally eliminating duplicate information and/or services.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of incorporating links, graphics, video, text, and audio, and/or combinations thereof, and selective advertising, according to selectable search, query, sorting, and/or grouping criteria, and/or combinations thereof into the information and/or services to be delivered to the user interfaces. The requestor and/or the user may place orders, such as purchases, and/or other types of orders, payments, confirmations thereof, and/or combinations thereof, either directly and/or through servers and/or sites on the network.

The client-server multitasking system is capable of use in a variety of applications, and is capable of information comparison and/or trend analysis of information from the same and/or different sources substantially simultaneously. The client-server multitasking system is capable of, for example, determining best query results, with respect to a plurality of search engine results; purchasing and/or price comparisons, viewing and/or reviewing prices/values and trends for different sites, determining lowest costs and lowest cost analyses for wholesale and retail purposes; product availability, e.g., airline tickets, pricing, and ticket availability, from different airlines to the same and/or different locations; purchasing of commodities and/or stocks form the same and/or different sites with updates every few seconds and/or minutes; obtaining prices and/or values in different stock markets substantially simultaneously; and searching for jobs on the same and/or different job sites, using the same and/or different job criteria, for example, on a daily basis, the job sites having changing job availability; and/or a combination thereof, all substantially simultaneously. The client-server multitasking system is capable of presenting information and/or services for review and/or updating from the same and/or different ones of sites, servers, and/or applications substantially simultaneously, and trend analysis thereof, using a variety of sorting, grouping and/or organizing criteria, according to the needs of the requester, and/or the user, and/or resident within the client-server multitasking system.

The client server-multitasking system and process are capable of service and/or information retrieval from at least one server, organization, communication, and presentation of such services and/or information to at least one requester and/or user, and/or optional storage, and/or retrieval of such services and/or information from the optional storage. The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of building a client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database from responses returned from the servers, search engines, and/or sites being queried and/or searched, and/or having requests made thereof. The client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database having stored information and/or services therein are also searchable, are capable of full text searches thereof, and are searchable by the servers and/or the clients on the network, either separately and/or in combination with the substantially simultaneous multiple same and/or different searches and/or queries of the same and/or different servers on the network. Information in the client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database are also searchable and/or retrievable, and are capable of being incorporated into the service and/or information responses delivered to the user interfaces, according to search criteria, selectively and/or automatically, by the requester and/or the user. The client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database are capable of spidering, and/or roboting, and/or querying sites, services and/or information to be stored therein and/or stored in the client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database, and updating the services and/or information to be stored and/or stored in the client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of retrieving, parsing, processing, formatting, organizing, grouping, sorting, and consolidating services and/or information from the same and/or different ones of the servers and/or clients having the same and/or different structures, formats, organizations, groupings, and/or data structures, and incorporating the parsed, processed, formatted, organized, grouped, sorted, and consolidated services and/or information into user responses for delivery to and use by the requesters and/or users.

The client-server multitasking system and process, then, are capable of information and/or service retrieval from the same and/or different ones of servers substantially simultaneously and on-the-fly, using the same and/or different ones of queries of the same and/or different ones of the servers, and sorting, grouping, and/or organizing responses therefrom substantially on-the-fly, and communicating service and/or information responses to the requesters and/or users substantially simultaneously and on-the-fly. The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of use on a variety of networks, such as global area networks, and in particular, the internet, metropolitan area networks, wide area networks, and local area networks, and are capable of searching search engines and/or other sites substantially simultaneously and on-the-fly. The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of sorting, grouping, and/or organizing results from the servers, search engines, and/or sites, in accordance with instructions from the requesters, and/or users, and/or instructions resident within the client-server multitasking system and/or process. The client-server multitasking system is capable of use in a variety of applications, and is capable of information comparison and/or trend analysis of information from the same and/or different sources substantially simultaneously. The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of building a client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database from responses returned from the servers, search engines, and/or sites being queried and/or searched, and/or having requests made thereof, are capable of being searched and/or queried, querying sites referenced in the client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database, and updating information and/or services stored therein. The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of retrieving, parsing, processing, formatting, organizing, grouping, sorting, and consolidating services and/or information from the same and/or different ones of the servers and/or clients having the same and/or different structures, formats, organizations, groupings, and/or data structures, and incorporating the parsed, processed, formatted, organized, grouped, sorted, and consolidated services and/or information into user responses for delivery to and use by the requesters and/or users.

The client-server multitasking system and process are also capable of performing as a multiple query search engine, which performs multiple queries of multiple sites, and performing as a single point of sale for purchasing multiple products from multiple sources.

A multitasking process having features of the present invention comprises: parsing, processing, and/or formatting a service and/or information request into a current request group; opening connections with and making at least one request of at least one server; parsing, processing, formatting, grouping, and/or organizing at least one response from the at least one server into at least one addressable response information group; formulating information from the current request group into a request pointer/address group having at least one pointer/address; formulating at least one addressable query pointer/address group having at least one other pointer/address; incorporating information and/or services from the at least one addressable response information group into at least one addressable query information group; and incorporating the at least one addressable query information group into a service and/or information response.

A client-server multitasking system having features of the present invention comprises: means for parsing, processing, and/or formatting a service and/or information request into a current request group; means for opening connections with and making at least one request of at least one server; means for parsing, processing, formatting, grouping, and/or organizing at least one response from the at least one server into at least one addressable response information group; means for formulating information from the current request group into a request pointer/address group having at least one pointer/address; means for formulating at least one addressable query pointer/address group having at least one other pointer/address; means for incorporating information and/or services from the at least one addressable response information group into at least one addressable query information group; and means for incorporating the at least one addressable query information group into a service and/or information response.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a client-server multitasking system, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic representation of the client-server multitasking system;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of user input UI_(n) from user U_(n) into user interface I_(n) of the client-server multitasking system;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a server S_(z) of the client-server multitasking system;

FIG. 5A is a schematic representation of a server PS of the client-server multitasking system having an optional database;

FIG. 5B is a schematic representation of a client C_(n) of the client-server multitasking system having an optional database;

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a particular one of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) of the client-server multitasking system, designated as the particular client C_(n), communicating with ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z), in accordance with the designation scheme corresponding to the corresponding ones of the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm), corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm), through the server PS;

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the particular client C_(n) of the client-server multitasking system communicating with ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z), in accordance with the designation scheme corresponding to the corresponding ones of the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm), corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm);

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the particular client C_(n) of the client-server multitasking system communicating with ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z), in accordance with the designation scheme corresponding to the corresponding ones of the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm), corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm), and also through the server PS;

FIG. 9 is an alternate schematic representation of the client-server multitasking system of FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with the present invention, regrouped diagrammatically and alternatively named for illustrative purposes only, to illustrate and visualize possible typical communication paths;

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of a particular service and/or information request IQ_(n);

FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of a particular service and/or information request IQ_(n) parsed, processed, and/or formatted into a current request group QA_(nc), request groups QA_(n1) . . . QA_(nz), and corresponding optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk), and utilization of information therefrom to make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) obtain the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm), and incorporate information therefrom into a particular service and/or information response IR_(n);

FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of the particular service and/or information request IQ_(n) parsed, processed, and/or formatted into a current request group QA_(nc), request groups QA_(n1) . . . QA_(nz), and corresponding optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk), and utilization of information therefrom to make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm), obtain the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm), and incorporate information therefrom into the particular service and/or information response IR_(n), having other grouping/sorting that may be used additionally and/or alternatively to that of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of the particular service and/or information response IR_(n) having a service and/or information group G_(n), additional request links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw), optional order form, optional additional advertisements and/or links, optional hidden information, and the optional service and/or information entry request form;

FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of a particular user service and/or information request iq_(n);

FIG. 15 is a schematic representation of a particular user service and/or information request iq_(n) parsed, processed, and/or formatted into the current request group QA_(nc), the request groups QA_(n1) . . . QA_(nz), and the corresponding optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk), and utilization of information therefrom to make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm), obtain the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm), and incorporate information therefrom into the particular user service and/or information response ir_(n);

FIG. 16 is a schematic representation of the particular user service and/or information request iq_(n) parsed, processed, and/or formatted into the current request group QA_(nc), the request groups QA_(n1) . . . QA_(nz), and the corresponding optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk), and utilization of information therefrom to make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm), obtain the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm), and incorporate information therefrom into the particular user service and/or information response ir_(n), having other grouping/sorting that may be used additionally and/or alternatively to that of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a schematic representation of the particular user service and/or information response ir_(n) having the service and/or information group G_(n), the additional request links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw), the optional order form, the optional additional advertisements and/or links, the optional hidden information, and the optional service and/or information entry request form;

FIG. 18A is a schematic representation of a response information group RG_(nm) having addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) showing optional addressable pointer/address indices IN_(nm1) . . . IN_(nmr) correspondingly associated with optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr), which may be addressed/pointed with pointer/address PP_(nm1);

FIG. 18B is a schematic representation of the addressable response information group RG_(nm) having the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) showing the optional addressable pointer/address indices IN_(nm1) . . . IN_(nmr) correspondingly associated with the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr), which may be addressed/pointed with the pointer/address PP_(nm2);

FIG. 18C is a schematic representation of the addressable response information group RG_(nm) having the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) showing the optional addressable pointer/address indices IN_(nm1) . . . IN_(nmr) correspondingly associated with the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr), which may be addressed/pointed with the pointer/address PP_(nmr);

FIG. 19 is a schematic representation of the individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) having corresponding optional links LD_(nm1) . . . LD_(nmr), and/or corresponding optional descriptions DD_(nm1) . . . DD_(nmr), and/or corresponding optional prices/values PD_(nm1) . . . PD_(nmr), and/or corresponding optional images ID_(nm1) . . . ID_(nmr);

FIG. 20 is a schematic representation of a labelled individual information group LL_(nmr);

FIG. 21 is a schematic representation of an addressable query information group GI_(nz);

FIG. 22 is a schematic representation of steps of a client-server multitasking process of the present invention;

FIG. 22-1A is a schematic representation of a multitasking process of deriving the service and/or information response IR_(n) and/or the user service and/or information response ir_(n), with reference to FIGS. 11 and 15;

FIG. 22-1B is a schematic representation of a multitasking process of deriving the service and/or information response IR_(n) and/or the user service and/or information response ir_(n) having other grouping/sorting that may be used additionally and/or alternatively to that of FIGS. 11 and 15, as shown with reference to FIGS. 12 and 16;

FIG. 22-1-1 is a schematic representation of a step of the multitasking process of FIGS. 22-1A and 22-1B shown in more detail;

FIG. 22-1-2A is a schematic representation of another step of the multitasking process of FIG. 22-1A shown in more detail;

FIG. 22-1-2B is a schematic representation of another step of the multitasking process of FIG. 22-1B shown in more detail;

FIG. 22-2 is a schematic representation of user review of user response UR_(n) and/or selection of additional services and/or information;

FIG. 23 is a schematic representation showing queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) and corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm);

FIG. 24 is a schematic representation of queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm), corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm), and optional instructions VJ_(nm1) . . . VJ_(nk) that may be parsed, processed, and/or formatted from the service and/or information request IQ_(n) and/or the user service and/or information request iq_(n), shows a schematic representation of a typical one of the optional service and/or information entry request form IE_(n), and is schematically representational of a typical user interface I_(n),

FIG. 25 is a schematic representation of certain typical optional instructions VJ_(nm1) . . . VJ_(nk) and/or certain additional request links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw);

FIG. 26 is a schematic representation of other certain typical optional instructions VJ_(nm1) . . . VJ_(nk) and/or other certain additional request links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw);

FIG. 27 depicts certain typical additional request links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw);

FIG. 28 is a schematic representation of a request pointer/address group QZ_(ns), having a particular one of query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz), designated as the query pointer/address group QG_(nz), associated ones of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm), the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr), and the query information group GI_(nz) associated with the query pointer/address group QG_(nz);

FIG. 29 is a schematic representation of a sorting criteria addressing scheme having a particular query pointer/address group QG_(nz), associated ones of response information groups RG_(nm), and query information group GI_(nz), associated with the query pointer/address group QG_(nz);

FIG. 30 is a schematic representation of an alternate sorting criteria addressing scheme having a particular query pointer/address group QG_(nz), associated ones of response information groups RG_(nm), and query information group GI_(nz), associated with the query pointer/address group QG_(nz);

FIG. 31 is a schematic representation of typical ones of the query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz), having the sorting criteria addressing scheme of FIG. 29, having typical ones of queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nz) and corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nz) associated therewith;

FIG. 32A is another schematic representation of the typical ones of the query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz), having the sorting criteria addressing scheme of FIG. 29, having the typical ones of the of queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nz) and the corresponding ones of the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nz) of FIG. 31 associated therewith;

FIG. 32B is a generic schematic representation of the query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz), having the sorting criteria addressing scheme of FIG. 29, having the ones of queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nz) and the corresponding ones of the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nz) associated therewith;

FIG. 33 is a schematic representation of information that may be used for formulating a typical particular one of the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm), designated as the request Q_(nm), and optional instructions VJ_(nm1) . . . VJ_(nk) from the particular service and/or information request IQ_(n) and opening a connection OC_(nm);

FIG. 34 is a schematic representation of a request Q_(nm) of the client-server multitasking system;

FIG. 35 is a schematic representation of a response R_(nm) of the client-server multitasking system;

FIG. 36 is a schematic representation of an entity body RH_(nm) of the response R_(nm) of FIG. 35 having optional response individual information groups LS_(nm1) . . . LS_(nmr), and/or optional information LI_(nm);

FIG. 37 is a schematic representation of the addressable response information group RG_(nm) having the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) parsed, and/or processed, and/or formatted, and/or organized, and/or grouped into the addressable response information group RG_(nm) from the optional entity body RH_(nm) of FIG. 36;

FIG. 38 is a schematic representation of the optional response individual information group LS_(nmr) parsed, and/or processed, and/or formatted, and/or organized, and/or grouped into the addressable individual information group LG_(nmr);

FIG. 39 is a schematic representation of the optional links LD_(nm1) . . . LD_(nmr), and/or the optional descriptions DD_(nm1) . . . DD_(nmr), and/or the optional prices/values PD_(nm1) . . . PD_(nmr), and/or the optional images ID_(nm1) . . . ID_(nmr) parsed individually and/or separately, and incorporated into the addressable response information group RG_(nm) from the optional entity body RH_(nm);

FIG. 40 is a schematic representation of a typical one of the addressable query information group GI_(nz), based upon certain sorting and/or grouping criteria, having the labelled individual information groups LL_(nz1) . . . LL_(nzu), the optional database labelled individual information groups RL_(nz1) . . . RL_(nzx) the optional query description QT_(nz), the optional server descriptions and/or links ST_(nz1) . . . ST_(nzf), and the optional advertisements and/or links LT_(nz1) . . . LT_(nzt) incorporated into certain typical ones of the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n); and

FIG. 41 is a another schematic representation of a typical one of the addressable query information group GI_(nz), based upon certain sorting and/or grouping criteria, having the labelled individual information groups LL_(nz1) . . . LL_(nzu), the optional database labelled individual information groups RL_(nz1) . . . RL_(nzx) the optional query description QT_(nz), the optional server descriptions and/or links ST_(nz1) . . . ST_(nzf), and the optional advertisements and/or links LT_(nz1) . . . LT_(nzt) incorporated into certain typical ones of the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n);

FIG. 42 depicts a typical service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which the user U_(n) may communicate typical user input UI_(n) thereinto;

FIG. 43 depicts a typical completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) at the user interface I_(n);

FIGS. 44A, 44B, and 44C depict a typical user response UR_(n), as a typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n), illustrated in partial views;

FIGS. 45A, 45B, and 45C depict another typical user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n), illustrated in partial views;

FIGS. 46A, 46B, and 46C depict another typical user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n), illustrated in partial views;

FIG. 47 depicts another typical completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) at the user interface I_(n);

FIG. 48 depicts another typical user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n);

FIG. 49 depicts another typical user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n);

FIG. 50 depicts another typical user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n);

FIG. 51 depicts another typical completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) at the user interface I_(n);

FIGS. 52A, 52B, 52C, 52D, 52E, and 52F depict another typical user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n), illustrated in partial views;

FIG. 53 depicts another typical completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) at the user interface I_(n);

FIGS. 54A, 54B, 54C, 54D, 54E, 54F, 54G, and 54H depict another typical user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n), illustrated in partial views;

FIG. 55 depicts another typical completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) at the user interface I_(n);

FIGS. 56A, 56B, 56C, 56D, 56E, 56F, 58G, and 58H depict another typical user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n), illustrated in partial views;

FIG. 57 depicts another typical completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) at the user interface I_(n);

FIGS. 58A, 58B, 58C, 58D, 58E, 58F, 58G, and 58H depicts another typical user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n), illustrated in partial views;

FIG. 59 depicts another typical completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) at the user interface I_(n);

FIGS. 60A, 60B, 60C, 60D, 60E, 60F, 60G, and 60H depict a typical combined user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n), and an order entry form OF_(n), which the user U_(n) may use to enter an order, illustrated in partial views;

FIG. 61 depicts a typical preview form of an order OP_(n), resulting from submission of the order entry form OF_(n), of the typical combined user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n), and the order entry form OF_(n), which the user U_(n) may use to enter the order, of FIGS. 54A–54H, inclusive;

FIG. 62 depicts a typical order placement form OL_(n), having the typical preview form of the order OP_(n), resulting from submission of the order entry form OF_(n), of the typical combined user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n), and the order entry form OF_(n), which the user U_(n) may use to enter the order, of FIGS. 54A–54H, inclusive, or which the user U_(n) may enter through the typical preview form of the order OP_(n) of FIG. 61;

FIG. 63 depicts a typical order confirmation OC_(n), resulting from submission of the typical completed order placement form OL_(n) of FIG. 62;

FIG. 64 depicts another typical service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which the user U_(n) may communicate other typical user input UI_(n) thereinto;

FIG. 65 depicts another typical service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which the user U_(n) may communicate other typical user input UI_(n) thereinto;

FIG. 66 depicts another typical completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) at the user interface I_(n);

FIGS. 67A, 67B, 67C, 67D, 67E, 67F, and 67G depict another typical user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n), illustrated in partial views;

FIG. 68 depicts another typical service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which the user U_(n) may communicate other typical user input UI_(n) thereinto;

FIG. 69 depicts another typical user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n); and

FIG. 70 depicts another typical service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which the user U_(n) may communicate other typical user input UI_(n) thereinto.

DESCRIPTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1–70 of the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference alphanumerics.

I. System

A. Overview

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention, having requestors U₁ . . . U_(n) (12), hereinafter called users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12), corresponding user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), server PS (18), servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), and optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), constructed in accordance with the present invention, which reside on a network 24. Each of the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) communicate with the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) through the corresponding user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14).

Each of the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) enter corresponding user inputs UI₁ . . . UI_(n) (25) having one or more same and/or different user requests qu₁₁ . . . qu_(nu) (26) into the corresponding user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), as shown in FIG. 3. The user requests qu₁₁ . . . qu_(nu) (26) are communicated from the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) to the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) within corresponding user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27), having the user requests qu₁₁ . . . qu_(nu) (26) and other optional information. The users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) may enter the corresponding user inputs UI₁ . . . UI_(n) (25) at the same and/or different times.

Each of the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) communicate the user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) to the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), which optionally format the corresponding user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) into corresponding service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28), as required. Each of the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) have information therein that may be used to formulate one or more same and/or different requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) to be made of one or more of the same and/or different ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), which may hereinafter be called server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), in accordance with a designation scheme which designates the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. FIG. 4 shows the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30) for typical ones of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) and a typical one of the servers S_(z) (20). Each of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) may be the same and/or different one from the other and may be made of the same and/or different ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) at the same time and/or different times.

Each of the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) may be communicated to the server PS (18), which parses, processes, and/or formats the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) into the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29).

The corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may also and/or alternatively optionally parse, process, and/or format the corresponding user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) into one or more of the same and/or different requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) to be made of one or more of the same and/or different ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme corresponding to the corresponding ones of the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), as required.

Certain ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may communicate corresponding certain ones of the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) to the server PS (18), which parses, processes and/or formats the certain ones of the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) into certain ones of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), as required, and communicates the certain ones of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) to the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme corresponding to the corresponding certain ones of the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30).

Alternate ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may communicate corresponding alternate ones of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) to corresponding alternate ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme corresponding to the corresponding alternate ones of the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(z) (30).

Other alternate ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may communicate corresponding other alternate ones of the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) to the server PS (18), which parses, processes and/or formats the other alternate ones of the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) into other alternate ones of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), as required, communicates the other alternate ones of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) to corresponding other alternate ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme corresponding to the corresponding other alternate ones of the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30); and additionally the other alternate ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may also parse, process, and/or format the user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) into one or more of the same and/or different yet other alternate ones of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), and communicate the yet other alternate ones of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) to corresponding yet other alternate ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme corresponding to the corresponding yet other alternate ones of the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30).

Each of the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) may, thus, be communicated from the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) to the server PS (18). The requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) may be communicated from the server PS (18) and/or from the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) to the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), and may depend upon instructions from and/or generated by the corresponding users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12), and/or the corresponding user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) and/or the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), and/or information generated by the server PS (18) and/or the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), and/or ancillary instructions, a combination thereof, and/or other suitable means.

Each of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) corresponding to the designation scheme S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30) replies to the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), accordingly, and communicates corresponding responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32), associated with the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), to the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) making the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), as shown in FIG. 2 for typical ones of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) and the corresponding responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32).

The server PS (18) and/or the appropriate clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) parse, process, format, sort, group, and/or organize the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32) into corresponding service and/or information responses IR₁ . . . IR_(n) (34), having corresponding parsed, processed, formatted, sorted, grouped, and/or organized service and/or information groups G₁ . . . G_(n) (35) acceptable to the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) and the corresponding respective user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14). The server PS (18) communicates the appropriate service and/or information responses IR₁ . . . IR_(n) (34) to the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16).

The clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) format the service and/or information responses IR₁ . . . IR_(n) (34) into corresponding user service and/or information responses ir₁ . . . ir_(n) (36), as required, and communicate the user service and/or information responses ir₁ . . . ir_(n) (36) to the corresponding user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14). The user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) incorporate the user service and/or information responses ir₁ . . . ir_(n) (36) into corresponding user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37), which are derived at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), and communicated by the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) to the corresponding users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12). The users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) review the corresponding user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) and/or select additional services and/or information therefrom.

E. Optional Database

The server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may also incorporate corresponding additional optional responses RA₁₁ . . . RA_(nm) (40) into the service and/or information responses IR₁ . . . IR_(n) (34), which may be obtained by accessing optional databases 41 and/or 42, shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, which may be optionally resident within the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), respectively.

The server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may optionally store the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32) communicated from the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme corresponding to the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30) in the optional databases 41 and/or 42, optionally resident within the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), respectively, which may be optionally retrieved from the optional databases 41 and/or 42, and/or optionally incorporated into the service and/or information responses IR₁ . . . IR_(n) (34), and accessed as the additional optional responses RA₁₁ . . . RA_(nm) (40).

The server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may optionally communicate with the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), and obtain information from each of the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), which may also be stored in the optional databases 41 and/or 42, which may be optionally resident within the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), respectively, and which may be optionally incorporated into the service and/or information responses IR₁ . . . IR_(n) (34), and accessed as the additional optional responses RA₁₁ . . . RA_(nm) (40).

Each of the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) may optionally communicate corresponding additional optional requests q₁₁ . . . q_(np) (44) through the corresponding user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) and the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) to the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), based upon information in the service and/or information responses IR₁ . . . IR_(n) (34) and/or other information presented to and/or available and/or known to the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) through the corresponding user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14). The optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22) reply to the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) with corresponding responses r₁₁ . . . r_(np) (46), which the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) communicate through the corresponding user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) to the corresponding users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12), as shown in FIG. 2 for typical ones of the requests q₁₁ . . . q_(np) (44) and the corresponding responses r₁₁ . . . r_(np) (46).

F. Additional Details

Now, in more detail, the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) and the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) reside on the network 24. The users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) and the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) communicate one with the other through the corresponding user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14). The user U₁ (12), thus, communicates with the client C₁ (16), one with the other, through the user interface I₁ (14); the user U₂ (12), thus, communicates with the client C₂ (16), one with the other, through the user interface I₂ (14); the user U_(n) (12), thus, communicates with the client C_(n) (16), one with the other, through the user interface I_(n) (14); and so on. Any particular user, designated user U_(n) (12), thus, communicates with corresponding client C_(n) (16), one with the other, through corresponding user interface I_(n) (14), as best shown later in FIGS. 6–8. The user U_(n) (12) may be used to designate any one of the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12); the user interface I_(n) (14) may be used to designate any one of the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14); the client C_(n) (16) may be used to designate any one of the users clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16); and so on. The client-server multitasking system 10 may also have the server PS (18) and the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22) residing on the network 24.

There may be n different or same the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) present on the network 24 at any time. Each of the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) may have one or more of the same and/or different requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) to be made of one or more of the same and/or different ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), which are called server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(z) (30), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30). The service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) may be used to designate any particular one of the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28). Requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) may be used to designate the particular requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) associated therewith and corresponding to the service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28).

Each of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(1m) from the client C₁ (16) may each be different one from the other or the same; each of the requests Q₂₁ . . . Q_(2m) from the client C₂ (16) may each be different one from the other or the same; and each of the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) from the client C_(n) (16) may each be different one from the other or the same, and so on. The requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(1m) (29), the requests Q₂₁ . . . Q_(2m) (29), and the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29), thus, may each be different one from the other, or the same, and so on. The requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) from the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (14), thus, may each be different, one from the other, or the same, and may be made of the same and/or different ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) at the same time and/or different times, in accordance with the corresponding server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30). There may be m different or same ones of the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) from the client C_(n) (16) at any time, and n×m different and/or same ones of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the same and/or different ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) present on the network 24 at any time.

This designation format, in which the first alphanumeric subscript after the parameter of interest, for example, as in the parameters Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) representing the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29), represents the particular parameters corresponding to the user U_(n) (12), and the second alphanumeric subscript after the parameter of interest represents the 1^(st), 2^(nd), 3^(rd), through the mth one of the particular parameters, will be used as a designation scheme throughout. In this particular instance, for example, there are then m distinctly the same and/or different ones of the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) associated with the nth user U_(n), which is designated as the user U_(n) (12). There are then the same and/or different m distinctly the same and/or different server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30) associated with the nth user U_(n), which is designated as the user U_(n) (12). The same and/or different requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29), then, may be made of the same and/or different ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme corresponding to the corresponding certain ones of the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30), associated with and corresponding to the user U_(n) (12).

Each of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may optionally also function as servers. Certain ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may, therefore, function only as clients, while alternate ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may function as clients and as servers. Each of the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) may be integral with the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) or separate from the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16). Therefore, certain ones of the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) may be integral with the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), while yet other ones of the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) may be separate from the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16).

The client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention, the client-server multitasking process 99, and the multitasking process 104, the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) are capable of retrieving, parsing, processing, formatting, organizing, grouping, sorting, and consolidating services and/or information from the same and/or different ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), and/or the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), having the same and/or different structures, formats, organizations, groupings, and/or data structures, and incorporating the parsed, processed, formatted, organized, grouped, sorted, and consolidated services and/or information into the user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37) for delivery to the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) and use by the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12).

Now, the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) may each be different, one from the other, or the same, and may change characteristics over time. Each of the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) may change characteristics as a function of time, information, and/or instructions, and/or other means, which may be derived by the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) and/or the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), and/or the server PS (18), and/or the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), and/or derived within the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14). The user interface I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) may change state.

The user interface I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) may also change as a function of optional timers and/or timed instructions associated with the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), and/or associated with the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) and/or associated with the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), and/or associated with the server PS (18), and/or associated with the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), and/or instructions from the user U₁ . . . U_(n) (12). Changes in the user interface I_(n) (14) may appear continuous to the user U_(n) (12), spaced in time, staccato, or static depending upon the optional timers and/or the timed instructions. Other conditions may change the user interface I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), as well.

The user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) may be updated continuously, intermittently, manually, randomly, semi-automatically, automatically, repetitively, non-repetitively, singly, plurally, multiplexed, and/or a combination thereof or other suitable manner.

The user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) may be visual, such as graphical user interfaces, aural, and/or tactile, a combination thereof, and/or other suitable means. The user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) may be integral with the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) or separate.

II. A Particular User, User Interface, and Client on the Network

A. Overview

FIGS. 6–8 show typical particular ones of the users U_(n) (12), the corresponding ones of the user interfaces U_(n) (12), the corresponding ones of the clients C_(n) (16), the server PS (18), the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) designated by the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30) corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) associated with the corresponding ones of the users U_(n) (12), and the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22) of the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention, which reside on the network 24. The user U_(n) (12) communicates with the corresponding client C_(n) (16) through the corresponding user interface I_(n) (14).

The user U_(n) (12) enters the corresponding user input UI_(n) (25) having one or more same and/or different user requests qu_(n1) . . . qu_(nu) (26) into the user interface I_(n) (14). The user requests qu_(n1) . . . qu_(nu) (26) are communicated from the user interface I_(n) (14) to the client C_(n) (16) within the user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27), having the user requests qu_(n1) . . . qu_(nu) (26) and other optional information.

The user interface I_(n) (14) communicates the user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27) through to the client C_(n) (16), which optionally formats the corresponding user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27) into the corresponding service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28), as required. The service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) may have one or more the same and/or different requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) to be made of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) designated by the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30) at the same time.

The client C_(n) (16) may communicate the corresponding service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) to the server PS (18). The server PS (18) parses, processes and/or formats the service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) received from the client C_(n) (16) into the certain requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29), and communicates the certain requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) to the corresponding certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) designated by the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30), as shown for typical ones of the certain requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) in FIG. 6.

The client C_(n) (16) may alternatively parse, process and/or format the user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27) into the alternate requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29), and communicate the alternate requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) to the corresponding alternate ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) designated by the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30), as shown for typical alternate ones of the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) in FIG. 7.

The client C_(n) (16) may alternatively communicate the corresponding other alternate one of the service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) to the server PS (18), which parses, processes and/or formats the other alternate one of the service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) into the other alternate ones of the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29), and communicates the other alternate ones of the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) to the corresponding other alternate ones of the servers S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), and additionally the client C_(n) (16) may also parse, process and/or format the user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27) into yet other alternate ones of the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29), and communicate the yet other alternate ones of the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) to the corresponding yet other alternate ones of the servers S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30), as shown for typical other alternate ones of the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) and typical yet other alternate ones of the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) in FIG. 8.

Each of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) designated by the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30) replies to the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16), in accordance with the designation scheme corresponding to the corresponding certain ones of the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), accordingly, and communicates the corresponding responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32), associated with the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29), to the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16), accordingly. The server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) parse, format, process, group, and organize the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) into the corresponding service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) and/or the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36) having the corresponding parsed, processed, formatted, grouped, and organized service and/or information group G_(n) (35) acceptable to the client C_(n) (16) and the user interface I_(n) (14). The server PS (18) communicates the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) to the client C_(n) (16), as required.

The client C_(n) (16) formats the service and/or information responses IR₁ . . . IR_(n) (34) into the corresponding user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36), as required, and communicates the user service and/or information responses ir_(n) (36) to the user interfaces I_(n) (14). The user interface I_(n) (14) incorporates the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36) into the user response UR_(n) (37), which is communicated by the user interfaces I_(n) (14) to the user U_(n) (12).

The server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) may optionally also incorporate the optional additional corresponding responses RA_(n1) . . . RA_(nm) (40) (shown later in FIGS. 11, 12, 15, and 16) into the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34), which may be obtained by accessing the optional databases 41 and/or 42, which may be optionally resident within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16), respectively

The server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) communicate the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) through the user interface I_(n) (14) to the user U_(n) (12).

The server PS (18) and/or the clients C_(n) (16) may optionally store the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) communicated from the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) designated by the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30) in the optional databases 41 and/or 42, optionally resident within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16), respectively, which may be optionally retrieved from the optional databases 41 and/or 42, and/or optionally incorporated into the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34), and accessed as the additional optional responses RA_(n1) . . . RA_(nm) (40).

The server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) may optionally communicate with the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), and obtain information from each of the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), which may also be stored in the optional databases 41 and/or 42, which may be optionally resident within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16), respectively, and which may be optionally incorporated into the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34), and accessed as the additional optional responses RA_(n1) . . . RA_(nm) (40).

The user U_(n) (12) may optionally communicate the corresponding additional optional requests q_(n1) . . . q_(np) (44) through the user interface I_(n) (14) and the client C_(n) (16) to the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), based upon information in the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) and/or other information presented to and/or available and/or known to the user U_(n) (12) through the user interface I_(n) (14). The optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22) reply to the client C_(n) (16) with the corresponding responses r_(n1) . . . r_(np) (46), which the client C_(n) (16) communicates through the user interface I_(n) (14) to the user U_(n) (12), as shown in FIGS. 6–8 for typical ones of the requests q_(n1) . . . q_(np) (44) and the corresponding responses r_(n1) . . . r_(np) (46).

B. Diagrammatic Regrouping

Now, in more detail, FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of ones of the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12), the corresponding user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), the server PS (18), the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), and the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22) of the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention, constructed in accordance with the present invention, which reside on the network 24, regrouped diagrammatically and alternatively named for illustrative purposes only, to illustrate and visualize possible typical communication paths. Other than FIG. 9, the nomenclature previously described and utilized will be used throughout.

Now, as shown in FIG. 9, for illustrative purposes only, ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) communicating with the server PS (18), as in FIG. 6, may optionally be designated clients CA₁ . . . CA_(w) (16A), and so on. Ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) communicating with the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), as in FIG. 7, may optionally be designated clients CB₁ . . . CB_(x) (16B), and so on. Ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) communicating with the server PS (18) and with the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), as in FIG. 8, may optionally be designated clients CC₁ . . . CC_(y) (16C), and so on.

The users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) and the corresponding user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) corresponding to the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may, likewise, optionally be designated in FIG. 9 only: correspondingly to the clients CA₁ . . . CA_(w) (16A), as users UA₁ . . . UA_(w) (12A) and user interfaces IA₁ . . . IA_(w) (14A), respectively; correspondingly to the clients CB₁ . . . CB_(x) (16B), as users UB₁ . . . UB_(x) (12B) and user interfaces IB₁ . . . IB_(x) (14B), respectively; and correspondingly to the clients CC₁ . . . CC_(y) (16C), as users UC₁ . . . UC_(y) (12C) and IC₁ . . . IC_(y) (14C), respectively.

The clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) being accounted for, the total of the clients CA₁ . . . CA_(w) (16A), CB₁ . . . CB_(x) (16B), and CC₁ . . . CC_(y) (16C) of FIG. 9 add up to n, where n may be any number greater or equal to one, such that the subscripts w+x+y=n.

III. A Particular Service and/or Information Request and Associated Service and/or Information Response on the Network

B. The Server PS (18)

FIG. 10 shows a typical particular one of the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28), designated as the service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28), having queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52). The server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) and the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) may be optional, and may depend upon the user interface I_(n) (14), and/or other information resident within the server PS (18).

FIG. 11 shows the particular service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) parsed, processed, and/or formatted into current request group QA_(nc) (50), request groups QA_(n1) . . . QA_(nz) (51), and optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), and utilization of information therefrom to make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29), obtain the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32), and incorporate information therefrom into the particular service and/or information response IR_(n) (34). The current request group QA_(nc) (50) may be any particular one the request groups QA_(n1) . . . QA_(nz) (51), which may be selected by the user U_(n) (12).

Upon receipt of the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) at the server PS (18), communicated from the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), the server PS (18) parses, processes, and/or formats each of the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) into the corresponding current request groups QA_(1c) . . . QA_(nc) (50) having corresponding queries QQ₁₁ . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and corresponding server addresses AQ₁₁ . . . AQ_(nm) (54) to open connections with and make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), shown for a particular one of the service and/or information requests IQ_(n) (28) in FIG. 11.

The server PS (18) also parses, processes, and/or formats each of the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) into the corresponding request groups QA₁₁ . . . QA_(nz) (51) having corresponding other queries QQ_(1a) . . . QQ_(nz) (55) and corresponding other server addresses AQ_(1a) . . . AQ_(nz) (56), and the corresponding optional instructions VJ₁₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52), also shown for a particular one of the service and/or information requests IQ_(n) (28) in FIG. 11.

The server PS (18) opens connections with and makes the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), shown for the particular one of the service and/or information requests IQ_(n) (28) corresponding to the corresponding queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) in the current request group QA_(nc) (50).

The servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) corresponding to the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), designated in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S₁ . . . S_(z) (30), respond to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) with the corresponding responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32).

The server PS (18) parses, and/or processes, and/or formats, and/or groups, and/or organizes each of the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) received from the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) corresponding to the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30) into corresponding addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57).

The server PS (18) may also make additional optional requests QP_(n1) . . . QP_(nm) (58) of the optional database 41, which may be optionally resident within the server PS (18), and which may reply with the corresponding additional optional responses RA_(n1) . . . RA_(nm) (40). The server PS (18) parses, and/or processes, and/or formats, and/or groups, and/or organizes each of the additional optional responses RA_(n1) . . . RA_(nm) (40) into corresponding response information groups RC_(n1) . . . RC_(nm) (59).

Information from the current request group QA_(nc) (50) having the corresponding queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) is formulated into a corresponding request pointer/address group QZ_(n) (60) having pointers/addresses PG_(n1) . . . PG_(nz) (61) associated therewith.

Each of the pointers/addresses PG_(n1) . . . PG_(nz) (61) are directed to point/address corresponding addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) associated therewith, which aid in obtaining information and/or services from certain ones of addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) to be incorporated into addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63).

Grouping and/or sorting criteria may be incorporated into the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), which may be entered into the user interface I_(n) (14) through the user input UI_(n) (25) by the user U_(n) (12). Grouping and/or sorting criteria may additionally and/or alternatively be optionally resident within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16).

The grouping and/or sorting criteria gives the user U_(n) (12) the ability to formulate the query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) and the way in which information and/or services from the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) is presented to the user U_(n) (12) through the user interface I_(n) (14).

Each of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) are associated with the corresponding ones of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63). The addressable query pointer/address group QG_(n1) (62) is, thus, associated with the addressable query information group GI_(n1) (63); the addressable query pointer/address group QG_(n2) (62) is, thus, associated with the addressable query information group GI_(n2) (63); the addressable query pointer/address group QG_(nz) (62) is, thus, associated with the addressable query information group GI_(nz) (63), and so on.

Each of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) is formulated based upon the grouping and/or sorting criteria, which may be incorporated into the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), and/or which may additionally and/or alternatively optionally be resident within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16), and/or information within the current request group QA_(nc) (50).

Each of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) has pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64) directed to address/point information in the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) based upon the grouping and/or sorting criteria, which may be incorporated into the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), and/or which may additionally and/or alternatively optionally be resident within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16), and/or the corresponding queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), and/or the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) within the current request group QA_(nc) (50).

Information and/or services within each of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) is addressed with the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64) from the query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62), and information and/or services from the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) is incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) corresponding to the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64), which are formulated by the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62), in accordance with the grouping and/or sorting criteria.

The corresponding other queries QQ_(na) . . . QQ_(nz) (55) and the corresponding other server addresses AQ_(na) . . . AQ_(nz) (56) in the corresponding request groups QA_(n1) . . . QA_(nz) (51) may be used for other ones of the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29), and may be incorporated into the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34), as part of other information OI_(n) (65), for future use.

Each of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) is incorporated into the service and/or information group G_(n) (35). The service and/or information group G_(n) (35) and the other information OI_(n) (65) are incorporated into the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34).

The optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) may be used by the server PS (18) in making the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) and/or the additional optional requests QP_(n1) . . . QP_(nm) (58) of the optional database 41, and/or in processing, formatting, grouping, and organizing the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) from the ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) corresponding to the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30), and/or the additional optional responses RA_(n1) . . . RA_(nm) (40), into the corresponding service and/or information responses IR₁ . . . IR_(n) (34), for grouping and/or sorting criteria instructions, and/or may be used for other purposes.

FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of the particular service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) parsed, processed, and/or formatted into a current request group QA_(n) (50), request groups QA_(n1) . . . QA_(nz) (51), and corresponding optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), and utilization of information therefrom to make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29), obtain the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32), and incorporate information therefrom into the particular service and/or information response IR_(n) (34), having simpler grouping/sorting that may be used additionally and/or alternatively to that of FIG. 11.

The user U_(n) (12) is typically given the option through the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) as to the grouping and/or sorting criteria to be entered into the user interface I_(n) (14) through the user input UI_(n) (25) by the user U_(n) (12). The user U_(n) (12) is typically given the choice as to the grouping and/or sorting criteria to be used as in FIG. 11, and/or the grouping and/or sorting criteria of FIG. 12.

Information from the current request group QA_(nc) (50) having the corresponding queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) is formulated into a corresponding request pointer/address group QY_(n) (68) having pointers/addresses PF_(n11) . . . PF_(nmr) (69) associated therewith, as shown in FIG. 12.

Each of the pointers/addresses PF_(n11) . . . PF_(nmr) (69) are directed to point/address the corresponding addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57), and aid in obtaining information and/or services from the corresponding addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) to be incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), as shown in FIG. 12.

The grouping and/or sorting criteria allow the user U_(n) (12) to direct the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) to sort information and/or services from the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) and/or the additional optional responses RA_(n1) . . . RA_(nm) (40) from the optional database 41, such as, for example, by category, query, group, page, order of importance, ascending and/or descending order, alphabetically and/or numerically, value, price, and/or other characteristics, and/or to combine and/or interleave the information and/or services from the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) and/or the additional optional responses RA_(n1) . . . RA_(nm) (40) one with the other, such as, for example, by order of relevance and/or other parameters.

FIG. 13 shows the particular service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) having a service and/or information group G_(n) (35), additional request links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw) (71), optional order form 72, optional additional advertisements and/or links 73, optional hidden information 74, and the optional service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) (38).

The service and/or information group G_(n) (35) has the query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), optional database response groups 75, and optional additional advertisements and/or links 76.

The additional request links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw) (71) allow the user U_(n) (12) to make additional optional selections, based upon information and/or services previously requested by the user U_(n) (12). The additional request links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw) (71), which are optional, may typically have Current Group/Next Group/Previous Group/Group Number Links, Server Names in Each Group, Queries in Each Group, Current Page/Next Page/Previous Page/Page Number Links, Search Display/Link and/or Description Placement/Interleave/Separate, and Link Description Options/Summary/Minimize. Other additional ones of the additional requests links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw) (71) and/or combinations thereof may also be incorporated into the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34).

The optional order form 72 allows direct placement and/or confirmation of orders and/or purchases with the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) and/or the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), which reside on the network 24. The user U_(n) (12) may enter the order placement into the user interface I_(n) (14) through the user input UI_(n) (25), and receive order confirmation through the user interface I_(n) (14). The client C_(n) (16) may communicate the order placement from the user interface I_(n) (14) to the server PS (18), which may communicate the order placement to the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) and/or the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22). The server PS (18) may alternatively and/or additionally communicate the order confirmation received from the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) and/or the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22) to the client C_(n) (16), which may communicate the order confirmation to the user interface I_(n) (14) for presentation to the user U_(n) (12). The order placement and/or the order confirmation may be stored within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16). The order placement and/or the order confirmation is typically secure, and may be encrypted, and is typically communicated using secure communications means.

C. Certain Ones of the Clients

Certain ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may alternatively and/or additionally make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), and formulate the corresponding user service and/or information response ir₁ . . . ir_(n) (36), as previously described.

FIG. 14 shows a typical particular one of the user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27), designated as the user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27), having the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52). The server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) and the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) may be optional, and may depend upon the user interface I_(n) (14), and/or other information resident within the client C_(n) (16).

FIG. 15 shows the particular user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27) parsed, processed, and/or formatted into the current request group QA_(nc) (50), the request groups QA_(n1) . . . QA_(nz) (51), and the corresponding optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), and utilization of information therefrom to make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29), obtain the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32), and incorporate information therefrom into the particular user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36);

The server PS (18) makes the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), as shown in FIG. 11, and certain ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may additionally and/or alternatively make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), as shown in FIG. 15.

The clients C_(n) (16) may parse, process, and/or format the user service and/or information requests iq_(n) (27) and/or organize and/or group information and/or services from the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) into the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) substantially the same as the server PS (18) parses, processes, and/or formats the service and/or information requests IQ_(n) (28) from the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) into the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), except that the client C_(n) (16) may organize the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) into the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36), as in FIG. 15, and the server PS (18) organizes the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) into the corresponding service and/or information response IR_(n) (34), as in FIG. 11.

Upon receipt of the user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) at the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), certain ones of the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may parse, process, and/or format the corresponding user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) into the corresponding current request groups QA_(1c) . . . QA_(nc) (50) having the corresponding queries QQ₁₁ . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding server addresses AQ₁₁ . . . AQ_(nm) (54) to open connections with and make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), shown for a particular one of the user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) in FIG. 15.

The corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may also parse, process, and/or format the corresponding user service and/or information response ir₁ . . . ir_(n) (36) into the corresponding request groups QA₁₁ . . . QA_(nz) (51) having the corresponding other queries QQ_(1a) . . . QQ_(nz) (55) and the corresponding other server addresses AQ_(1a) . . . AQ_(nz) (56), and the corresponding optional instructions VJ₁₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52), also shown for a particular one of the user service and/or information requests iq_(n) (27) in FIG. 15.

A particular one of the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), designated as the client C_(n) (16), may open connections with and make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), shown for the particular one of the user service and/or information requests iq_(n) (27) corresponding to the corresponding queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) in the current request group QA_(nc) (50).

The servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) corresponding to the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), designated in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), respond to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) with the corresponding responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32).

The client C_(n) (16) may parse, and/or process, and/or format, and/or group, and/or organize each of the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) received from the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) corresponding to the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30) into the corresponding addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57).

The client C_(n) (16) may also make additional optional requests QP_(n1) . . . QP_(nm) (58) of the optional database 42, which may be optionally resident within the client C_(n) (16), and which may reply with the corresponding additional optional responses RA_(n1) . . . RA_(nm) (40). The client C_(n) (16) may parse, and/or process, and/or format, and/or group, and/or organize each of the additional optional responses RA_(n1) . . . RA_(nm) (40) into the corresponding response information groups RC_(n1) . . . RC_(nm) (59).

Now again, for the client C_(n) (16), information from the current request group QA_(nc) (50) having the corresponding queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) is formulated into the corresponding request pointer/address group QZ_(n) (60) having the pointers/addresses PG_(n1) . . . PG_(nz) (61) associated therewith.

Now again, for the client C_(n) (16), each of the pointers/addresses PG_(n1) . . . PG_(nz) (61) are directed to point/address the corresponding addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) associated therewith, which aid in obtaining information and/or services from certain ones of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) to be incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63).

Yet again, for the client C_(n) (16), grouping and/or sorting criteria may be incorporated into the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), which may be entered into the user interface I_(n) (14) through the user input UI_(n) (25) by the user U_(n) (12). Grouping and/or sorting criteria may additionally and/or alternatively optionally resident within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16).

Now again, the grouping and/or sorting criteria gives the user U_(n) (12) the ability to formulate the query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) and the way in which information from the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) is presented to the user U_(n) (12) through the user interface I_(n) (14).

Now again, for the client C_(n) (16), each of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) are associated with the corresponding ones of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63). Each of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) is formulated based upon the grouping and/or sorting criteria, which may be incorporated into the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), and/or which may additionally and/or alternatively optionally be resident within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16), and/or information within the current request group QA_(nc) (50).

Now again, for the client C_(n) (16), each of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) has pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64) directed to address/point services and/or information in the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) based upon the grouping and/or sorting criteria, which may be incorporated into the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), and/or which may additionally and/or alternatively optionally be resident within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16), and/or the corresponding queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), and/or the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) within the current request group QA_(nc) (50).

Yet again, for the client C_(n) (16), the information and/or services in each of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) is addressed with the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64) from the query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62), and information and/or services from the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) is incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) corresponding to the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64), which are formulated by the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62), in accordance with the grouping and/or sorting criteria.

Yet again, for the client C_(n) (16), the corresponding other queries QQ_(na) . . . QQ_(nz) (55) and the corresponding other server addresses AQ_(na) . . . AQ_(nz) (56) in the corresponding request groups QA_(n1) . . . QA_(nz) (51) may be used for other ones of the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29), and may be incorporated into the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36), as part of other information OI_(n) (65), for future use.

Now again, for the client C_(n) (16), each of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) is incorporated into the service and/or information group G_(n) (35). The service and/or information group G_(n) (35) and the other information OI_(n) (65) are incorporated into the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34).

The optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) may be used by the client C_(n) (16), in making the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) and/or the additional optional requests QP_(n1) . . . QP_(nm) (58) of the optional database 42, and/or in processing, formatting, grouping, and organizing the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) from the ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) corresponding to the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30), and/or the additional optional responses RA_(n1) . . . RA_(nm) (40), into user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36), for grouping and/or sorting criteria instructions, and/or may be used for other purposes.

FIG. 16 is a schematic representation of the particular user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27) parsed, processed, and/or formatted into the current request group QA_(nc) (50), the request groups QA_(n1) . . . QA_(nz) (51), and the corresponding optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), and utilization of information therefrom to make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29), obtain the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32), and incorporate information therefrom into the particular user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36), having simpler grouping/sorting that may be used additionally and/or alternatively to that of FIG. 15.

The user U_(n) (12) is typically given the option through the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) as to the grouping and/or sorting criteria to be entered into the user interface I_(n) (14) through the user input UI_(n) (25) by the user U_(n) (12). The user U_(n) (12) is typically given the choice as to the grouping and/or sorting criteria of FIG. 15, and/or the grouping and/or sorting criteria of FIG. 16.

Now again, the client C_(n) (16) may parse, process, and/or format the user service and/or information requests iq_(n) (27) and/or organize and/or group information and/or services from the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) into the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) substantially the same as the server PS (18) parses, processes, and/or formats the service and/or information requests IQ_(n) (28) from the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) into the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), except that the client C_(n) (16) may organize the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) into the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36), as in FIG. 16, and the server PS (18) organizes the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) into the corresponding service and/or information response IR_(n) (34), as in FIG. 12.

Now again, for the client C_(n) (16), information from the current request group QA_(nc) (50) having the corresponding queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) is formulated into the corresponding request pointer/address group QY_(n) (68) having the pointers/addresses PF_(n11) . . . PF_(nmr) (69) associated therewith, as shown in FIG. 16.

Now again, for the client C_(n) (16), each of the pointers/addresses PF_(n11) . . . PF_(nmr) (69) are directed to point/address the corresponding addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57), and aid in obtaining information and/or services from the corresponding addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) to be incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), as shown in FIG. 16.

Again, the grouping and/or sorting criteria allow the user U_(n) (12) to direct the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) to sort information and/or services from the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) and/or the additional optional responses RA_(n1) . . . RA_(nm) (40) from the optional database 41, such as, for example, by category, query, group, page, order of importance, ascending and/or descending order, alphabetically and/or numerically, value, price, and/or other characteristics, and/or to combine and/or interleave the information and/or services from the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) and/or the additional optional responses RA_(n1) . . . RA_(nm) (40) one with the other, such as, for example, by order of relevance and/or other parameters.

FIG. 17 shows the particular user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36) having the service and/or information group G_(n) (35), the additional request links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw) (71), the optional order form 72, the optional additional advertisements and/or links 73, the optional hidden information 74, and the optional service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) (38).

Now again, the service and/or information group G_(n) (35) has the query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), the optional database response groups 75, and the optional additional advertisements and/or links 76.

Yet again, the additional request links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw) (71) allow the user U_(n) (12) to make additional optional selections, based upon information and/or services previously requested by the user U_(n) (12). The additional request links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw) (71), which are optional, may typically have Current Group/Next Group/Previous Group/Group Number Links, Server Names in Each Group, Queries in Each Group, Current Page/Next Page/Previous Page/Page Number Links, Search Display/Link and/or Description Placement/Interleave/Separate, and Link Description Options/Summary/Minimize. Other additional ones of the additional request links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw) (71) and/or combinations thereof may also be incorporated into the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36).

Now again, for the client C_(n) (16), the optional order form 72 allows direct placement and/or confirmation of orders and/or purchases with the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) and/or the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), which reside on the network 24. The user U_(n) (12) may enter the order placement into the user interface I_(n) (14) through the user input UI_(n) (25), and receive order confirmation through the user interface I_(n) (14). The client C_(n) (16) may communicate the order placement from the user interface I_(n) (14) to the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) and/or the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), and/or receive the order confirmation therefrom, and communicate the order confirmation from the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) and/or the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22) to the user interface I_(n) (14) for presentation to the user U_(n) (12). The order placement and/or the order confirmation may be stored within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16). The order placement and/or the order confirmation is typically secure, and may be encrypted, and is typically communicated using secure communications means.

D. Formulating Query Information Groups

Each of the particular addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57), designated as the addressable response information group RG_(nm) (57), has optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80), which may be addressed with the pointers/addresses PP_(nm1) . . . PP_(nmr) (64), as shown in FIGS. 11, 15, 18A, 18B, and 18C.

Each of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) and each of the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(n11) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) in each of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) may be addressed with the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64).

Now again, the addressable response information group RG_(nm) (57) has the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80), which may be addressed with the pointers/addresses PP_(nm1) . . . PP_(nmr) (64). Each of the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) in the addressable response information group RG_(nm) (57) may be pointed/addressed by the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) to retrieve all and/or a portion and/or combinations of specific ones of the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80), from the addressable response information group RG_(nm) (57), and incorporate information and/or services from the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) into certain ones of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), in accordance with the grouping and/or sorting criteria addressing scheme.

The addressable response information group RG_(nm) (57) having the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) may have optional addressable pointer/address indices IN_(nm1) . . . IN_(nmr) (81) correspondingly associated with the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80), which may be addressed/pointed with the pointers/addresses PP_(nm1) . . . PP_(nmr) (64), and which may be pointed/addressed by the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) to retrieve all and/or a portion and/or combinations of specific ones of the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80), and incorporate information and/or services from the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) into the certain ones of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), in accordance with the grouping and/or sorting criteria addressing scheme.

FIGS. 18A, 18B, and 18C show the addressable response information group RG_(nm) (57) having the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) showing the optional addressable pointer/address indices IN_(nm1) . . . IN_(nmr) (81) correspondingly associated with the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80), which may be addressed/pointed with the pointer/addresses PP_(nm1) (64), PP_(nm2) (64), and PP_(nmr) (64), respectively.

The optional addressable pointer/address index IN_(nm1) (81) is correspondingly associated with the optional addressable individual information group LG_(nm1) (80). The optional addressable pointer/address index IN_(nm2) (81) is correspondingly associated with the optional addressable individual information group LG_(nm2) (80), and so on. The optional addressable pointer/address index IN_(nmr) (81) is, thus, correspondingly associated with the optional addressable individual information group LG_(nm1) (80).

The pointers/addresses PG_(n1) . . . PG_(nz) (61) may be formulated as arrays and/or lists. The pointers/addresses PP_(nm1) . . . PP_(nmr) (64) and/or the pointers/addresses PF_(nm1) . . . PF_(nmr) (69) may be formulated as arrays and/or lists. The arrays may be multidimensional arrays, and the lists may be lists within lists.

The optional addressable individual information group LG_(nmr) (80) is associated with and corresponds to a particular one of the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) in a particular one of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57), designated as the addressable response information group RG_(nm) (57). The first subscript of the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nmr) (80) is associated with and corresponds to the particular service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) and/or the user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27). The second subscript of the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nmr) (80) is associated with and corresponds to a particular one of “1” through “m” i.e., 1 . . . m, of the addressable response information group RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57). The third subscript of the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nmr) (80) is associated with and corresponds to a particular one of “1” through “r” i.e., 1 . . . r, of the optional addressable individual information group LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) within the addressable response information group RG_(nm) (57).

The subscripts of the optional addressable pointer/address indices IN_(nm1) . . . IN_(nmr) (81) are correspondingly associated with the subscripts of the corresponding addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80).

A number and variety of pointing/addressing schemes are possible, which may be used for a variety of grouping and sorting criteria schemes and addressing/pointing schemes.

For example, the pointers/addresses PG_(n1) . . . PG_(nz) (61) of the request pointer/address group QZ_(n) (60) may be pointed/addressed to certain ones of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62), in accordance with certain grouping and/or sorting criteria schemes and/or pointing/addressing schemes. The pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64) of each of the pointed/addressed addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) may be pointed to the pointer/address indices IN_(n11) . . . IN_(nmr) (81) of the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr), i.e., 1 . . . r, and the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64), i.e., 1 . . . m, corresponding to the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) formulated by the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) may be pointed to certain ones of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57), in accordance with certain grouping and/or sorting criteria schemes and/or addressing schemes. This subprocess may be repeated until the information and/or services from the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) from the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) is incorporated into the certain ones of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), in accordance with the grouping and/or sorting criteria addressing scheme, as formulated by the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) and the request pointer/address group QZ_(n) (60).

Alternatively and/or additionally, the pointers/addresses PG_(n1) . . . PG_(nz) (61) of the request pointer/address group QZ_(n) (60) may be incremented through each of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62). The pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64) of each of the pointed/addressed addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) may be pointed to the pointer/address indices IN_(n11) . . . IN_(nmr) (81) of the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr), i.e., 1 . . . r, and incremented once, and then the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64), i.e., 1 . . . m, corresponding to the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) formulated by the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) may be incremented through each of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57). This subprocess may be repeated until the information and/or services from the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) from the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) is incorporated into the certain ones of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), in accordance with the grouping and/or sorting criteria addressing scheme, and as formulated by the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62).

Alternatively and/or additionally, the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64), i.e., 1 . . . m, may be incremented, corresponding to the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) formulated by the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62), and then the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64), i.e., 1 . . . r, pointing to the pointer/address indices IN_(n11) . . . IN_(nmr) (81) of the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) may then be incremented. This subprocess may be repeated until the information and/or services from the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) from the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) is incorporated into the certain ones of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), in accordance with the grouping and/or sorting criteria addressing scheme, and as formulated by the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62).

Alternatively and/or additionally, the pointers/addresses PF_(nm1) . . . PF_(nmr) (69), i.e., 1 . . . m, may be incremented, corresponding to the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) formulated by the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62), and then the pointers/addresses PF_(nm1) . . . PF_(nmr) (69), i.e., 1 . . . r, pointing to the pointer/address indices IN_(n11) . . . IN_(nmr) (81) of the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) may then be incremented. This subprocess may be repeated until the information and/or services from the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) from the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) is incorporated into the certain ones of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), in accordance with the grouping and/or sorting criteria addressing scheme, and as formulated by the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62).

The typical sorting and/or grouping criteria and the addressing/pointing schemes mentioned immediately above, for example, may group certain ones of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) having the same and/or substantially the same values grouped into a particular one of the query information groups GI_(nz) . . . GI_(nz) (63), designated as the query information group GI_(nz) (63).

The grouping and/or sorting criteria and schemes and the addressing/pointing schemes mentioned herein are but only a small portion of a much larger variety of grouping and/or sorting criteria and schemes and addressing/pointing schemes and/or combinations thereof that the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention may use and is capable of. The above mentioned examples are included herein to illustrate but a few examples of the capabilities of the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention.

The addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) are typically parsed, and/or processed, and/or formatted for consistency of presentation and/or appearance one with the other, as the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) are incorporated into the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) from the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32).

Alternatively and/or additionally the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) may be incorporated into the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) from the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) in an as-is condition and/or in raw form.

The optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) in the addressable response information group RG_(nm) (57), having information and/or services parsed and/or processed, and/or formatted, and/or grouped from the response R_(nm) (32), may be correspondingly associated with the locations of the information and/or services in the response R_(nm) (32).

Each of the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) may have and/or be parsed, and/or processed, and/or formatted, and/or organized, and/or grouped into corresponding optional links LD_(nm1) . . . LD_(nmr) (82), and/or corresponding optional descriptions DD_(nm1) . . . DD_(nmr) (83), and/or corresponding optional prices/values PD_(nm1) . . . PD_(nmr) (84), and/or corresponding optional images ID_(nm1) . . . ID_(nmr) (85), as shown in FIG. 19. The optional links LD_(nm1) . . . LD_(nmr) (82), the corresponding optional descriptions DD_(nm1) . . . DD_(nmr) (83), the corresponding optional prices/values PD_(nm1) . . . PD_(nmr) (84), and the corresponding optional images ID_(nm1) . . . ID_(nmr) (85), corresponding to the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) are typically associated correspondingly one with the other.

The optional link LD_(nm1) (82), the corresponding optional description DD_(nm1) (83), the corresponding optional price/value PD_(nm1) (84), and the corresponding optional image ID_(nm1) (85), corresponding to the optional individual information group LG_(nm1) (80) are typically associated correspondingly one with the other. The optional link LD_(nm2) (82), the corresponding optional description DD_(nm2) (83), the corresponding optional price/value PD_(nm2) (84), and the corresponding optional image ID_(nm2) (85), corresponding to the addressable individual information group LG_(nm2) (80) are typically associated correspondingly one with the other, and so on. The optional link LD_(nmr) (82), the corresponding optional description DD_(nmr) (83), the corresponding optional price/value PD_(nmr) (84), and the corresponding optional image ID_(nmr) (85), corresponding to the addressable individual information group LG_(nmr) (80) are, thus, typically associated correspondingly one with the other.

The addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80), which may have the corresponding optional links LD_(nm1) . . . LD_(nmr) (82), and/or the corresponding optional descriptions DD_(nm1) . . . DD_(nmr) (83), and/or the corresponding optional prices/values PD_(nm1) . . . PD_(nmr) (84), and/or the corresponding optional images ID_(nm1) . . . ID_(nmr) (85) are appended with labels/identifiers, as shown in FIG. 20, and incorporated into certain ones of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), depending upon the grouping and/or sorting criteria. FIG. 21 shows a particular one of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), designated as the query information group GI_(nz) (63).

Now again, the optional addressable individual information group LG_(nmr) (80) is associated with and corresponds to a particular one of the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) in a particular one of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57), designated as the addressable response information group RG_(nm) (57). The first subscript of the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nmr) (80) is associated with and corresponds to the particular service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) and/or the user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27). The second subscript of the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nmr) (80) is associated with and corresponds to a particular one of “1” through “m” i.e., 1 . . . m, of the addressable response information group RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57). The third subscript of the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nmr) (80) is associated with and corresponds to a particular one of “1” through “r”, i.e., 1 . . . r, of the optional addressable individual information group LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) within the addressable response information group RG_(nm) (57).

FIG. 20 shows a labelled individual information group LL_(nzu) (86) associated with a particular one of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), designated as the addressable query information group GI_(nz) (63), having optional group identifier GL_(nc) (87), optional query link identifier LN_(ncu) (88), optional resource location identifier SU_(nw) (89), optional server and/or query identifier SI_(nm) (90), and/or optional server link identifier LX_(nmr) (91) appended to the addressable individual information group LG_(nmr) (80).

The first alphanumeric subscript of the labelled individual information group LL_(nzu) (86) is associated with and corresponds to the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) and/or the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36). The second alphanumeric subscript of the labelled individual information group LL_(nzu) (86) is associated with and corresponds to a particular one of “1” through “z”, i.e., 1 . . . z, of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), designated as the addressable query information group GI_(nz) (63), which the labelled individual information group LL_(nzu) (86) is incorporated in. The third alphanumeric subscript of the labelled individual information group LL_(nzu) (86) is associated with and corresponds to a particular one of “1” through “u”, i.e., 1 . . . u, of labelled individual information groups LL_(nz1) . . . LL_(nzu) (86) within the addressable query information group GI_(nz) (63).

The optional group identifier GL_(nc) (87) labels and/or identifies the current request group QA_(nc) (50). The optional group identifier GL_(nc) (87) is associated with and corresponds to the current request group QA_(nc) (50), which may be any particular one the request groups QA_(n1) . . . QA_(nz) (51) selected by the user U_(n) (12). The first alphanumeric subscript of the optional group identifier GL_(nc) (87) is associated with and corresponds to the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) and/or the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36). The second subscript of the optional group identifier GL_(nc) (87) is associated with and corresponds to the particular one of the request groups QA_(n1) . . . QA_(nz) (51) selected by the user U_(n) (12) as the current request group QA_(nc) (50).

The optional query link identifier LN_(ncu) (88) is also associated with and corresponds to the current request group QA_(nc) (50). The optional query link identifier LN_(ncu) (88) labels and/or identifies the labelled individual information group LL_(nzu) (86). The first alphanumeric subscript of the optional query link identifier LN_(ncu) (88) is associated with and corresponds to the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) and/or the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36). The second subscript of the optional query link identifier LN_(ncu) (88) is also associated with and corresponds to the particular one of the request groups QA_(n1) . . . QA_(nz) (51) selected by the user U_(n) (12) as the current request group QA_(nc) (50). The third alphanumeric subscript of the optional query link identifier LN_(ncu) (88) is associated with and corresponds to a particular one of “1” through “u”, i.e., 1 . . . u, of the labelled individual information groups LL_(nz1) . . . LL_(nzu) (86) in the addressable query information group GI_(nz) (63).

The optional resource location identifier SU_(nw) (89) labels and/or identifies resource locations of information and/or services associated with and corresponding to the optional addressable individual information group LG_(nmr) (80) in the labelled individual information group LL_(nzu) (86). The optional resource location identifier SU_(nw) (89) indicates and is associated with and corresponds to resource locations of information and/or services associated with certain ones of the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22) and/or certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20). The optional resource location identifier SU_(nw) (89) may be obtained from certain information in the optional addressable individual information group LG_(nmr) (80). The first alphanumeric subscript of the optional resource location identifier SU_(nw) (89) is associated with and corresponds to the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) and/or the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36). The second alphanumeric subscript of the optional resource location identifier SU_(nw) (89) is associated with and corresponds to a particular one of “1” through “w”, i.e., 1 . . . w, of the optional resource location identifiers SU_(n1) . . . SU_(nw) (89) in the labelled individual information group LL_(nzu) (86).

The optional server and/or query identifier SI_(nm) (90) labels and/or identifies the query QQ_(nm) (53) and/or the corresponding server address AQ_(nm) (54) associated with and corresponding to the optional addressable individual information group LG_(nmr) (80) in the corresponding labelled individual information group LL_(nzu) (86) of the current request group QA_(nc) (50). The first alphanumeric subscript of the optional server and/or query identifier SI_(nm) (90) is associated with and corresponds to the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) and/or the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36). The second alphanumeric subscript of the optional server and/or query identifier SI_(nm) (90) is associated with and corresponds to a particular one of “1” through “m”, i.e., 1 . . . m, of the optional server and/or query identifiers SI_(n1) . . . SI_(nm) (90), which may be correspondingly associated with the corresponding ones of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and/or the corresponding ones of the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54).

The optional server link identifier LX_(nmr) (91) labels and/or identifies the location of the optional addressable individual information group LG_(nmr) (80) in the corresponding addressable response information groups RG_(nm) (57). The first alphanumeric subscript of the optional server link identifier LX_(nmr) (91) is associated with and corresponds to the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) and/or the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36). The second alphanumeric subscript of the optional server link identifier LX_(nmr) (91) is associated with and corresponds to the addressable response information group RG_(nm) (57). The third alphanumeric subscript of the optional server link identifier LX_(nmr) (91) is associated with and corresponds to a particular one of “1” through “r”, i.e., 1 . . . r, of the optional server link identifiers LX_(nm1) . . . LX_(nmr) (91), which may be correspondingly associated with the locations of certain ones of the optional addressable individual information group LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) in the addressable response information groups RG_(nm) (57). The certain ones of the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) in the addressable response information group RG_(nm) (57), having information and/or services parsed and/or processed, and/or formatted, and/or grouped from the response R_(nm) (32), which are labelled and/or identified with the optional server link identifiers LX_(nm1) . . . LX_(nmr) (91), are correspondingly associated with the locations of the information and/or services in the response R_(nm) (32). The optional server link identifiers LX_(nm1) . . . LX_(nmr) (91), thus, identify and/or label the location of services and/or information in the response R_(nm) (32).

FIG. 21 shows the addressable query information group GI_(nz) (63) having the labelled individual information groups LL_(nz1) . . . LL_(nzu) (86), optional database labelled individual information groups RL_(nz1) . . . RL_(nzx) (92), optional query description QT_(nz) (93), optional server descriptions and/or links ST_(nz1) . . . ST_(nzf) (94), and optional advertisements and/or links LT_(nz1) . . . LT_(nzt) (95). The first and second subscripts of the optional database labelled individual information groups RL_(nz1) . . . RL_(nzx) (92), the optional query description QT_(nz) (93), the optional server descriptions and/or links ST_(nz1) . . . ST_(nzf) (94), and the optional advertisements and/or links LT_(nz1) . . . LT_(nzt) (95) are associated with and correspond to the addressable query information group GI_(nz) (63). The third subscripts of the optional database labelled individual information groups RL_(nz1) . . . RL_(nzx) (92), the optional server descriptions and/or links ST_(nz1) . . . ST_(nzf) (94), and the optional advertisements and/or links LT_(nz1) . . . LT_(nzt) (95) are associated with and correspond to ones of the optional database labelled individual information groups RL_(nz1) . . . RL_(nzx) (92), the optional server descriptions and/or links ST_(nz1) . . . ST_(nzf) (94), and the optional advertisements and/or links LT_(nz1) . . . LT_(nzt) (95), respectively.

IV Process

FIG. 22 shows steps of a client-server multitasking process 99 of the present invention. The client-server multitasking process 99 is shown for the client-server multitasking system 10 for a particular one of the users U . . . U_(n) (12), designated as the user U_(n) (12), the corresponding particular one of the user interfaces I . . . I_(n) (14), designated as the user interface I_(n) (14), the corresponding particular one of the clients C . . . C_(n) (16), designated as the client C_(n) (16), the server PS (18), the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), and the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), which reside on the network 24.

The client-server multitasking process 99 starts at step 101. The user U_(n) (12) enters the user input UI_(n) (25) into the user interface I_(n) (14) (step 102). The user input UI_(n) (25) is formulated into the user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27) at the user interface I_(n) (14) and communicated to the client C_(n) (16) (step 103). The user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27) may be formulated into the service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) at the client C_(n) (16) and communicated to the server PS (18) (also step 103).

The service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) and/or the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36) are derived at the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16), respectively, at step 104, which in itself is a process, and may hereinafter be referred to as the multitasking process 104. The multitasking process 104 will be discussed in more detail later with reference to FIGS. 22-1A and 22-1B.

Now, continuing with FIG. 22, the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36) may be derived at the client C_(n) (16) (step 104) from the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34), which may be communicated to the client C_(n) (16) from the server PS (18) (also step 104), and/or alternatively and/or additionally from the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32), which may be communicated to the client C_(n) (16) (step 104).

Now, the client C_(n) (16) may communicate the service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) to the server PS (18) (step 103). The service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) is then derived at the server PS (18) (step 104) and communicated to the client C_(n) (16) (also step 104). The user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36) may be derived from the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) (also step 104).

Now, in more detail, if the service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) is communicated to the server PS (18) (step 103), then the server PS (18) makes the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) and/or certain ones of the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30), utilizing information from the service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28). The service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) is then derived at the server PS (18) (step 104) from the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) received from the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) corresponding to the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30), and communicated to the client C_(n) (16). Now, again, the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36) may be derived from the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) (also step 104).

Now, also in more detail, alternatively and/or additionally, the client C_(n) (16) may make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) and/or certain other ones of the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30), utilizing information from the user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27). Now, again, the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36) may also be derived at the client C_(n) (16) (step 104) from the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) communicated to the client C_(n) (16) (step 104) and/or alternatively and/or additionally from the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) communicated to the client C_(n) (16) from the server PS (18) (also step 104).

The user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36), thus, may be derived from the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) communicated from the server PS (18) to the client C_(n) (16) and/or alternatively and/or additionally from the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) communicated to the client C_(n) (16) (step 104).

The user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36) is communicated to the user interface I_(n) (14) (step 105) and incorporated into the user response UR_(n) (37).

The user U_(n) (12) reviews the user response UR_(n) (37) and/or selects additional services and/or information (step 106). Step 106 will be discussed in more detail later with reference to FIG. 22-2. The process 99 ends at step 107. The process 99 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1–70 of the drawings.

The service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) and/or the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36) are derived at the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16), respectively, at step 104 in FIG. 22, and shown in more detail in FIGS. 22-1A and 22-1B.

FIG. 22-1A shows the multitasking process 104 of deriving the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) and/or the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36), with reference to FIGS. 11 and 15. FIG. 22-1B shows the multitasking process 104 of deriving the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) and/or the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36) having other grouping/sorting that may be used additionally and/or alternatively to that of FIGS. 11 and 15, as shown with reference to FIGS. 12 and 16. The multitasking process 104 will also be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1–70 of the drawings.

The server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) parse, process, and/or format the service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) and/or the user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27) into the current request group QA_(nc) (50), the request groups QA_(n1) . . . QA_(nz) (51), and the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) (step 104-1), as shown in FIGS. 22-1A and 22-1B.

Information from the current request group QA_(nc) (50) and the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) may be used to make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29), obtain the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32), and incorporate information therefrom into the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) and/or the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36), as shown in FIGS. 22-1A and 22-1B with reference to FIGS. 11, 12, 15, and 16. The current request group QA_(nc) (50) may be any particular one the request groups QA_(n1) . . . QA_(nz) (51), which may be selected by the user U_(n) (12).

The current request group QA_(nc) (50) has the corresponding queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) to open connections with and make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30), shown for the particular service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) and/or the particular user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27).

The server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) open connections with and make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) having the corresponding queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) in the current request group QA_(nc) (50) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) (step 104-2) as shown in FIGS. 22-1A and 22-1B, in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30).

The servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) corresponding to the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30), designated in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), respond to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) with the corresponding responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32).

The server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) parse, and/or process, and/or format, and/or group, and/or organize each of the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) received from the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) (step 104-3), as shown in FIGS. 22-1A and 22-1B with reference to FIGS. 36–38, corresponding to the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30) into the corresponding addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57).

The server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) may also make additional optional requests QP_(n1) . . . QP_(nm) (58) of the optional databases 41 and/or 42 (also step 104-2 of FIGS. 22-1A and 22-1B), which may be optionally resident within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16), and which may reply with the corresponding additional optional responses RA_(n1) . . . RA_(nm) (40). The server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) parse, and/or process, and/or format, and/or group, and/or organize each of the additional optional responses RA_(n1) . . . RA_(nm) (40) into the corresponding response information groups RC_(n1) . . . RC_(nm) (59) (also step 104-3 of FIGS. 22-1A and 22-1B).

Now, step 104-3 of FIGS. 22-1A and 22-1B is shown in more detail in FIG. 22-1-1.

As discussed later, and shown in FIGS. 36–38, entity body RH_(nm) (353) of the response R_(nm) (32) has optional response individual information groups LS_(nm1) . . . LS_(nmr) (360).

Each of the optional response individual information groups LS_(n11) . . . LS_(nmr) (360) and/or portions thereof from the entity bodies RH_(n1) . . . RH_(nm) (353) of the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) may be optionally compared one with the other, and duplicate ones of the optional response individual information groups LS_(n11) . . . LS_(nmr) (360) may be optionally discarded (step 104-3-1), as shown in FIG. 22-1-1.

The remaining optional response individual information groups LS_(n11) . . . LS_(nmr) (360) are parsed, and/or processed, and/or formatted, and/or organized, and/or grouped into corresponding ones of the addressable individual information groups LG_(n11) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) as the addressable individual information groups LG_(n11) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) are incorporated into the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) from the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) (step 104-3-2), as shown in FIGS. 22-1-1.

The addressable individual information groups LG_(n11) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) are typically parsed, and/or processed, and/or formatted for consistency of presentation and/or appearance one with the other, as the addressable individual information groups LG_(n11) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) are incorporated into the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) from the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32).

The server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) may formulate information from the current request group QA_(nc) (50) having the corresponding queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) into the corresponding request pointer/address group QZ_(n) (60) having the pointers/addresses PG_(n1) . . . PG_(nz) (61) associated therewith (step 104-4 of FIG. 22-1A with reference to FIGS. 11, 15, and 28). Alternatively and/or additionally, the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) may formulate information from the current request group QA_(nc) (50) having the corresponding queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) into a corresponding request pointer/address group QY_(n) (68) having the pointers/addresses PF_(n11) . . . PF_(nmr) (69) associated therewith (step 104-4 of FIGS. 22-1B with reference to FIGS. 12 and 16).

The server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) may formulate the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) (step 104-5 of FIG. 22-1A with reference to FIGS. 11, 15, 28, 32B, and typical ones of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) in FIGS. 29 and 30), depending upon the grouping and/or sorting criteria used. Each of the pointers/addresses PG_(n1) . . . PG_(nz) (61) may be directed to point/address the corresponding addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) associated therewith, which aid in obtaining information and/or services from certain ones of addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) to be incorporated into addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63).

Each of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) has the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64) directed to address/point information in the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) based upon the grouping and/or sorting criteria.

The grouping and/or sorting criteria may be incorporated into the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), which may be entered into the user interface I_(n) (14) through the user input UI_(n) (25) by the user U_(n) (12). Grouping and/or sorting criteria may additionally and/or alternatively optionally resident within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16).

The grouping and/or sorting criteria gives the user U_(n) (12) the ability to formulate the query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) and the way in which information and/or services from the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) is presented to the user U_(n) (12) through the user interface I_(n) (14).

Information and/or services within each of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) is addressed with the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64) from the query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62), and information and/or services from the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) is incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) corresponding to the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64) (step 104-6 of FIG. 22-1A), which are formulated by the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62), in accordance with the grouping and/or sorting criteria, as shown in FIG. 22-1A with reference to FIGS. 11, 15, 18A, 18B, 18C, 19–21, 28, 32B, typical ones of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) in FIGS. 29 and 30, and a typical one of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), designated as the addressable query information group GI_(nz) (63), in FIG. 40.

Alternatively and/or additionally, each of the pointers/addresses PF_(n11) . . . PF_(nmr) (69) may directed to point/address the corresponding addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57), and aid in obtaining information and/or services from the corresponding addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) to be incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) (step 104-6) as shown FIG. 22-1B with reference to FIGS. 12, 16, 18A, 18B, 18C, 19–21, and another typical one of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), designated as the addressable query information group GI_(nz) (63), in FIG. 41.

Now, step 104-6 of FIG. 22-1A is shown in more detail in FIG. 22-1-2A with reference to FIGS. 11, 15, 18A, 18B, 18C, 19–21, 28, 32B, typical ones of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) in FIGS. 29 and 30, and a typical one of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), designated as the addressable query information group GI_(nz) (63), in FIG. 40. Step 104-6 of FIG. 22-1B is shown in more detail in FIG. 22-1-2B with reference to FIGS. 12, 16, 18A, 18B, 18C, 19–21, and another typical one of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), designated as the addressable query information group GI_(nz) (63), in FIG. 41.

The optional addressable individual information groups LG_(n11) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) in each of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) may be addressed with the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64) (step 104-6-1) as shown FIG. 22-1-2A with reference to FIGS. 11 and 15 and FIG. 22-1A.

The optional addressable individual information groups LG_(n11) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) in each of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) may alternatively and/or additionally be addressed with the pointers/addresses PF_(n11) . . . PF_(nmr) (69) (step 104-6-1) as shown FIG. 22-1-2B with reference to FIGS. 12 and 16 and FIG. 22-1B.

The addressed optional addressable individual information groups LG_(n11) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) and/or portions thereof may be optionally labelled with labels and/or identifiers and incorporated into the labelled individual information groups LL_(nz1) . . . LL_(nzu) (86) (step 104-6-2), as shown in FIGS. 22-1-2A and 22-1-2B.

The labelled individual information groups LL_(nz1) . . . LL_(nzu) (86) may be incorporated into certain ones of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), depending upon the grouping and/or sorting criteria (step 104-6-3), as shown in FIGS. 22-1-2A and 22-1-2B.

The addressed optional addressable individual information groups LG_(n11) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) and/or portions thereof are typically appended with the labels and/or identifiers, thus creating the labelled individual information groups LL_(nz1) . . . LL_(nzu) (86), as each of the labelled individual information groups LL_(nz1) . . . LL_(nzu) (86) are incorporated into the certain ones of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63). The steps 104-6-2 and 104-6-3 are thus typically consolidated into a single step.

The addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) may then be incorporated into the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) (step 104-7), as shown in FIGS. 22-1A and 22-1B with reference to FIG. 13, and/or the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36) (also step 104-7), as also shown in FIGS. 22-1A and 22-1B but with reference to FIG. 17.

The user U_(n) (12) reviews the user response UR_(n) (37) the user interface I_(n) (14) and/or selects additional services and/or information at step 106 in FIG. 22, and shown in more detail in FIG. 22-2. The step 106 will also be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1–70 of the drawings.

The user U_(n) (12) selects additional services and/or information through the user interface I_(n) (14) (step 106-1) or exits to the end of the process 99 at step 107. If the user U_(n) (12) selects additional services and/or information through the user interface I_(n) (14) (step 106-1), the user U_(n) (12) may optionally enter one or more orders into an order form and/or order forms at and through the user interface I_(n) (14) (step 106-2). The order and/or orders may be, for example, for purchases, and/or instructions, and/or payment, and/or other information and/or services to be directed to and/or requested of third parties, and/or combinations thereof, of the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), and/or the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), and/or other ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) through the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16). The order and/or orders may, thus, be placed through and by the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16), eliminating the need for the user U_(n) (12) to place separate ones of the orders with the third parties, the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), and/or the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) separately and/or individually.

The server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) process the orders and/or communicate the orders to the third parties, the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), and/or the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), and/or other ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) (step 106-3). The server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) confirm the order (step 106-4). The user U_(n) (12) may select additional services and/or information through the user interface I_(n) (14) (step 106-1) or exit to the end of the process 99 at step 107.

If the user U_(n) (12) selects additional services and/or information through the user interface I_(n) (14) (step 106-1), the user U_(n) (12) may alternatively and/or additionally optionally enter information and/or service requests of the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), and/or the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) through the user interface I_(n) (14) (step 106-5) and/or exit to the end of the process 99 at step 107.

If the user U_(n) (12) selects additional services and/or information through the user interface I_(n) (14) (step 106-1), the user U_(n) (12) may alternatively and/or additionally optionally enter additional requests as the user input UI_(n) (25) at and through the user interface I_(n) (14) (step 106-6) and enter the process 99 at step 102.

V. Additional Details

A. User Input

The user input UI (25), which the user U_(n) (12) makes through the user interface I_(n) (14), may have one or a plurality of the same and/or different ones of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) to be made by the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) of the same and/or different ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30) at the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54).

The server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) parse, process, format, sort, group, and/or organize each of the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) to the corresponding requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29), received from the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) designated by the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30), and/or each of the additional optional responses RA_(n1) . . . RA_(nm) (40) from the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16). The parsed, processed, formatted, sorted, grouped, and/or organized results from the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) are communicated to the user U_(n) (12) through the user interface I_(n) (14) as the user response UR_(n) (37), which the user U_(n) (12) may review, interact with, and/or select additional services and/or information therefrom.

The user U_(n) (12) enters the user input UI_(n) (25) having one or more of the same and/or different user requests qu_(n1) . . . qu_(nu) (26) into user interface I_(n) (14), as shown in FIG. 3. The user requests qu_(n1) . . . qu_(nu) (26) are communicated from the user interface I_(n) (14) to the client C_(n) (16) within the user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27), having the user requests qu_(n1) . . . qu_(nu) (26) and other optional information.

The user U_(n) (12) may enter the user input UI_(n) (25) having one or more of the same and/or different user requests qu_(n1) . . . qu_(nu) (26) into the service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) (38) at the user interface I_(n) (14), or into the user interface I_(n) (14) through other suitable means.

The user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) have suitable input means and/or suitable presentation and/or display means, which allow the corresponding users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) to communicate with the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16). The user U_(n) (12) may enter the user input UI_(n) (25) into the service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) (38) at the user interface I_(n) (14). The user input UI_(n) (25) may be entered as user input values into fields or alternate request links of the service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) (38).

B. User Interface Details

The client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention may have any suitable user interface I_(n) (14) acceptable to and/or preferred by the user U_(n) (12), and acceptable to the client C_(n) (16). The user interface I_(n) (14) may be, for example, a graphical user interface, visual, aural, and/or tactile user interface, and/or combination thereof, or other suitable interface. The user interface I_(n) (14) may be integral with the client C_(n) (16) or separate therefrom.

The user interface I_(n) (14) may be hardware based, and/or computer based, and/or process based, and/or a combination thereof, and may be a graphical user interface, such as, for example, a browser and/or combinations thereof, varieties of which are commonly used on the internet.

The service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) (38) may be optionally available to the user U_(n) (12) at the user interface I_(n) (14), or the user U_(n) (12) may optionally request the service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) (38) through the user interface I_(n) (14).

Now again, the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) may each be different, one from the other, or the same, and may change characteristics over time. Each of the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) may change characteristics as a function of time, information, and/or instructions, and/or other means, which may be derived by the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) and/or the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), and/or the server PS (18), and/or the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), and/or derived within the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14). The user interface I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) may change state.

The user interface I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) may also change as a function of optional timers and/or timed instructions associated with the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), and/or associated with the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) and/or associated with the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), and/or associated with the server PS (18), and/or associated with the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), and/or instructions from the user U₁ . . . U_(n) (12). Changes in the user interface I_(n) (14) may appear continuous to the user U_(n) (12), spaced in time, staccato, or static depending upon the optional timers and/or the timed instructions. Other conditions may change the user interface I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), as well.

The user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) may be updated continuously, intermittently, manually, randomly, semi-automatically, automatically, repetitively, non-repetitively, singly, plurally, multiplexed, and/or a combination thereof or other suitable manner.

The user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) may be visual, such as graphical user interfaces, aural, and/or tactile, a combination thereof, and/or other suitable means. The user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) may be integral with the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) or separate therefrom.

The user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) may change in response to the user inputs UI₁ . . . UI_(n) (25), the service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), completed service and/or information request forms IF_(n), the user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27), optional execute request elements, accessing the alternate request links QL₁₁ . . . QL_(1a), accessing server request links UL₁₁ . . . UL_(1s), accessing the additional request links SL₁₁ . . . SL_(1w) (71), the service and/or information responses IR₁ . . . IR_(n) (34), the service and/or information response forms IS₁ . . . IS_(n) (39). Other conditions may change the user interface I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), as well.

Portions of the user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37) may be mapped into and/or onto different portions of the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) to facilitate interaction with and the needs of each of the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12). Such mappings may be optionally customized by the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12).

C. Service and/or Information Request Details

Each of the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) communicate the corresponding user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) through the corresponding user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) to the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), which optionally format the corresponding user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) into the corresponding service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28), as required.

Now, again, the user U_(n) (12) may instruct the user interface I_(n) (14) to communicate the user service and/or information requests iq_(n) (27). The user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27) is communicated from the user interface I_(n) (14) to the client C_(n) (16), which acts upon the user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27) to derive the service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) therefrom.

The service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) has information and/or elements, which may be used by the server PS (18) to make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30). The client C_(n) (16) may additionally and/or alternatively make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), using information and/or elements within the user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27).

Now, again, each of the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) communicate the corresponding user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) through the corresponding user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) to the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), which optionally format the corresponding user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) into the corresponding service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28), as required.

The user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) may be communicated as the elements, values, field names, optional instructions, and/or alternate requests entered into the completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) or other suitable means from the corresponding user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) to the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16).

The users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) may, thus, communicate the corresponding user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) to the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) through the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), upon entering the corresponding user inputs UI₁ . . . UI_(n) (25) into the corresponding service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38) at the corresponding user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14). The completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) are derived from the user inputs UI₁ . . . UI_(n) (25) having the corresponding user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27), which may be entered as values or alternate requests into the corresponding service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38).

The user U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) may alternatively communicate the user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) by entering the alternate request links QL₁₁ . . . QL_(na) (203) or the server request links UL₁₁ . . . UL_(ns) (204) or the additional request links SL₁₁ . . . SL_(nw) (71) into the service and/or information entry request form IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38) or into the completed service and/or information request form IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230).

The server PS (18) and/or the C_(n) (16) may alternatively and/or additionally use information resident within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16), such as default information, and/or information communicated from the user U_(n) (12) through the user interface I_(n) (14) to the client C_(n) (16) to make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30).

FIG. 23 is a schematic representation showing queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54).

D. Optional Instructions

Now, in yet more detail, the user inputs UI₁ . . . UI_(n) (25) may have one or more of the same and/or different optional instruction values VV₁₁ . . . VV_(nv). The optional instruction values VV₁₁ . . . VV_(nv) may typically have instructions, which may be used by the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), such as, for example, as instructions on how to request, organize, present and/or display, and/or retrieve services and/or information from the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) and/or other suitable instructions.

E. Communicating the Service and/or Information Requests

Now, each of the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) communicate the corresponding user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) through the corresponding user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) to the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), which optionally format the corresponding user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) into the corresponding service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28). The clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) communicate the corresponding service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) to the server PS (18) and/or use the corresponding user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) internally to formulate the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29).

F. Parsing, Processing, and/or Formatting the Service and/or Information Requests

The server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) parse, process, and/or format the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) into the requests Q_(11 . . . Q) _(nm) (29), the optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52), and information to open connections OC₁₁ . . . OC_(nm) (323).

Upon receipt of the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) at the server PS (18), communicated from the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), the server PS (18) parses, processes, and/or formats each of the corresponding service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) into the corresponding queries QQ₁₁ . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding server addresses AQ₁₁ . . . AQ_(nm) (54) to open connections OC₁₁ . . . OC_(nm) (323) with and make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), and/or the optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52) to be used by the server PS (18) in making the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) and/or in processing, formatting, grouping, and organizing the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32) from the ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) corresponding to the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(z) (30), and/or the additional optional responses RA₁₁ . . . RA_(nm) (40), into the corresponding service and/or information responses IR₁ . . . IR_(n) (34), as shown in FIG. 33.

Alternatively and/or additionally, upon receipt of the user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) at the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may parse, process, and/or format each of the user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) into corresponding queries QQ₁₁ . . . QQ_(nm) (53), corresponding server addresses AQ₁₁ . . . AQ_(nm) (54) to open connections OC₁₁ . . . OC_(nm) (323) with and make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), and/or the optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52) to be used by the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) in making the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) and/or in processing, formatting, grouping, and organizing the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32) from the ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) corresponding to the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), and/or the additional optional responses RA₁₁ . . . RA_(nm) (40), into the corresponding user service and/or information responses ir₁ . . . ir_(n) (36).

The server PS (18) parses, processes, and/or formats each of the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) into queries, server addresses to make the queries of, query groups and/or server groups, and instructions to be used by the server PS (18), typically when the server PS (18) makes the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) corresponding to the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30) and/or the server PS (18) processes, formats, groups, and organizes the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32) from the ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) corresponding to the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30) at the server PS (18). Otherwise, the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may parse, process, and/or format each of the user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) into queries, server addresses to make the queries of, query groups and/or server groups, and instructions, typically when the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) corresponding to the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) process, format, group, and organize the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32) from the ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) corresponding to the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30) at the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16). Choice as to whether the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) makes the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) corresponding to the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30) and/or process, format, group, and organize the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32) are dependent on processing capabilities of the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) and other factors.

Ones of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) may require further formatting and/or processing by the server PS (18) and/or the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), and/or other ones of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) may already be formatted in accordance with requirements with respect to communications protocols, the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28), the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), and/or the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), and/or the server PS (18), and/or other requirements of the network 24 of the client-server multitasking system 10. The server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) parse, process, and/or format the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), as required.

G. Formulating the Requests

Each of the optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52) is typically parsed, and/or processed, and/or formatted, and/or grouped, and/or organized into particular ones of the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) for use by the server PS (18) and/or particular ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), a particular one of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) being designated as the client C_(n) (16).

The additional request links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw) (71) allow the user U_(n) (12) to make additional optional selections, based upon information and/or services previously requested by the user U_(n) (12).

FIG. 24 is a schematic representation of queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm), corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm), and optional instructions VJ_(nm1) . . . VJ_(nk) that may be parsed, processed, and/or formatted from the service and/or information request IQ_(n) and/or the user service and/or information request iq_(n), shows a schematic representation of a typical one of the optional service and/or information entry request form IE_(n), and is schematically representational of a typical user interface I_(n),

Typical ones of the optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52) and the additional request links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw) (71) that may be parsed, processed, and/or formatted from the service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) and/or the user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27) are shown in FIG. 24.

The requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) may be made by the server PS (18) and/or the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) of the associated corresponding ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), according to the designation scheme corresponding to the corresponding ones of the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), in accordance with the optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52) and/or default values for the optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52) resident within the server PS (18) and/or the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16).

The service and/or information responses IR₁ . . . IR_(n) (34) and/or the corresponding user service and/or information responses ir₁ . . . ir_(n) (36) may be formulated by the server PS (18) and/or the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), in accordance with the optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52) and/or default values for the optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52) resident within the server PS (18) and/or the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16).

The optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) and the additional request links SL₁₁ . . . SL_(nw) (71) for a particular one of the service and/or information requests IQ_(n) (28) may typically have Searches per Group 326, and/or Group 327, and/or Page 328A and/or Page 328B, and/or Timeout per Search Engine 329, and/or URL's per Search Engine 330, and/or Search Engine Results 331A and/or Search Display 331B, and/or URL Details 332A and/or Description and/or List 332B, as shown in FIG. 24. Default values may additionally and/or alternatively be established or be resident for any and/or all of the optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52) within the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16).

The Searches per Group 326 are typically considered to be the number of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) to make of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) at the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) of as the corresponding ones of the server designations S_(n1 . . . S) _(nm) (30).

The Group 327 is considered to be the group of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) to make of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) at the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) of as the corresponding ones of the server designations S_(n1 . . . S) _(nm) (30).

The Page 328A and the Page 328B have certain service and/or information location information, which may be incorporated into the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) to be made of the associated corresponding ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), at the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), in accordance with the designation scheme corresponding to the corresponding ones of the server designations S_(n1 . . . S) _(nm) (30).

The Timeout per Search Engine 329 is considered to be substantially the maximum time for the server PS (18) and/or the particular client C_(n) (16) making the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) to wait for each of the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) from certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30).

The URL's per Search Engine 330, is considered to be the number of links, and/or descriptions, and/or prices/values, and/or images to be returned to the user interface I_(n) (14) from each of the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32).

The Search Engine Results 331A and the Search Display 331B each designate presentation and/or display schemes to be presented at the user interface I_(n) (14). The URL Details 332A and the Description and/or List 332B each also designate presentation and/or display schemes to be presented at the user interface I_(n) (14).

FIG. 25 is a schematic representation of certain typical optional instructions VJ_(nm1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) and/or certain additional request links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw) (71), referred to as the Search Engine Results 331A, which are shown to be Interleave 331A-1, Separate 331A-2, Combine $[a–z] 331A-3, Combine $[z–a] 331A-4, Separate $[a–z] 331A-5, Separate $[z–a] 331A-6, which are instructions for parsing, processing, sorting, and/or formatting the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34).

FIG. 26 is a schematic representation of other certain typical optional instructions VJ_(nm1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) and/or other certain additional request links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw) (71), referred to as the URL Details 332A, which are other instructions for parsing, processing, sorting, and/or formatting the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) in Summary 332A-1 or List 332A-2 formats.

FIG. 27 depicts certain typical additional request links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw) (71), and also shows the Search Display 331B, which are shown to be Interleave 331B-1, Separate 331B-2, Combine $[a–z] 331B-3, Combine $[z–a] 331B-4, Separate $[a–z] 331B-5, Separate $[z–a] 331B-6, which are instructions for parsing, processing, sorting, and/or formatting the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) and the Description and/or List 332B, which are other instructions for parsing, processing, sorting, and/or formatting the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) in Summary or List formats.

The optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) may also typically have Next Group 333 and Previous Group 334, which are considered to be the next group and the previous group, respectively, to make the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) thereof at the next and previous ones of the corresponding groups of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) to make of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) thereof at the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) thereof as the corresponding ones of the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30). Information about Current Group 337 having the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) is also shown. Current Page Number 338 is also indicated.

The optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) for a particular one of the service and/or information requests IQ_(n) (28) may also typically have Next Page 335 and Previous Page 336, each of which has certain different service and/or information location information, which may be incorporated into the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) to be made of the associated corresponding ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme corresponding to the corresponding ones of the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30).

H. Determining Queries and Servers to Make the Requests Thereof

The server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) evaluate the optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52), determine the queries QQ₁₁ . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of at the corresponding server addresses AQ₁₁ . . . AQ_(nm) (54), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with as the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), and group the queries QQ₁₁ . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding server addresses AQ₁₁ . . . AQ_(nm) (54) associated therewith.

FIG. 24 shows typical ones of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52) that may be parsed, processed, grouped, sorted, and/or formatted from the service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) and/or the user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27).

The queries QQ₁₁ . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) thereof are typically based upon the values designated in and parsed from the queries QQ₁₁ . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the values designated in and parsed from the corresponding server addresses AQ₁₁ . . . AQ_(nm) (54), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with as the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), and the Searches per Group 326, the Group 327, the Page 328A and/or the Page 328B within the optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52).

The server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) evaluate the values in the Group 327, the Searches per Group 326, the queries QQ₁₁ . . . QQ_(nm) (53), and the corresponding server addresses AQ₁₁ . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and determine the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) corresponding to the corresponding server addresses AQ₁₁ . . . AQ_(nm) (54) within the Group 327, in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with as the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30) to make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) thereof, and the Page 328A and/or the Page 328B.

The Group 327 and the Searches per Group 326 are used to determine which of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) thereof.

The server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) determine the size of the Group 327 from the Searches per Group 326 and the Group 327, and the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) associated with the corresponding server addresses AQ₁₁ . . . AQ_(nm) (54) within the Group 327, in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with as the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30).

The Searches per Group 326 and the Group 327 are used to formulate the current request groups QA_(1c) . . . QA_(nc) (50) having the corresponding queries QQ₁₁ . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding server addresses AQ₁₁ . . . AQ_(nm) (54) to open connections with and make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) thereof as the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), for corresponding ones of the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) and/or the user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27).

The queries QQ₁₁ . . . QQ_(nm) (53), the server addresses AQ₁₁ . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the Page 328A and/or the Page 328B provide the location of information and/or services to the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) within the Group 327, in accordance with the Searches per Group 326, to make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) thereof, in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) thereof as the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29).

The URL's per Search Engine 330 determine whether the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) communicate additional ones of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), depending upon the number of the links, and/or descriptions, and/or prices/values, and/or images requested by ones of the user U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) to be returned to the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), and the number of links, and/or descriptions, and/or prices/values, and/or images available within each of the corresponding ones of the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32). If insufficient ones of the links, and/or descriptions, and/or prices/values, and/or images are not available within the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32) to satisfy delivery of the number of the URL's per Search Engine 330 requested by certain ones the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12), the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may yet make additional ones of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in order deliver the number of the links, and/or descriptions, and/or prices/values, and/or images requested in the number of the URL's per Search Engine 330 to the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) requested by certain ones of the user U₁ . . . U_(n) (12).

If the optional instructions do not indicate which ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) thereof, in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with as the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), default values may be used. The default values may be resident within the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16).

If all and/or a portion of the optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52) are absent and/or are not communicated to the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), default values may be used. The default values may be resident within the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16).

I. Grouping the Queries and Sorting/Grouping Criteria

Upon receipt of the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) at the server PS (18), communicated from the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), the server PS (18) parses, processes, and/or formats each of the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) into the corresponding current request groups QA_(1c) . . . QA_(nc) (50) having the corresponding queries QQ₁₁ . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding server addresses AQ₁₁ . . . AQ_(nm) (54) to open connections with and make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), shown for a particular one of the service and/or information requests IQ_(n) (28) in FIG. 11. The process 104 of deriving the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) for the grouping and/or sorting criteria of FIG. 11 is shown in FIGS. 22-1A.

The server PS (18) also parses, processes, and/or formats each of the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) into the corresponding request groups QA₁₁ . . . QA_(nz) (51) having the corresponding other queries QQ_(1a) . . . QQ_(nz) (55) and the corresponding other server addresses AQ_(1a) . . . AQ_(nz) (56), and the corresponding optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52), also shown for a particular one of the service and/or information requests IQ_(n) (28) in FIG. 11.

Certain ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may alternatively and/or additionally make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), and formulate the corresponding user service and/or information response ir₁ . . . ir_(n) (36), as previously described, as shown in FIG. 15. The process 104 of deriving the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36) for the grouping and/or sorting criteria of FIG. 11 is shown in FIG. 22-1A.

Upon receipt of the user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) at the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), certain ones of the corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may parse, process, and/or format the corresponding user service and/or information requests iq₁ . . . iq_(n) (27) into the corresponding current request groups QA_(1c) . . . QA_(nc) (50) having the corresponding queries QQ₁₁ . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding server addresses AQ₁₁ . . . AQ_(nm) (54) to open connections with and make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), shown for a particular one of the user service and/or information requests iq_(n) (27) in FIG. 15. The corresponding clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may also parse, process, and/or format the corresponding user service and/or information response ir₁ . . . ir_(n) (36) into the corresponding request groups QA₁₁ . . . QA_(nz) (51) having the corresponding other queries QQ_(1a) . . . QQ_(nz) (55) and the corresponding other server addresses AQ_(1a) . . . AQ_(nz) (56), and the corresponding optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52), also shown for a particular one of the user service and/or information requests iq_(n) (27) in FIG. 15.

The server PS (18) makes the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), as shown in FIG. 11, and certain ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may additionally and/or alternatively make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), as shown in FIG. 15.

The Searches per Group 326 and the Group 327 are used to formulate the current request group QA_(nc) (50) having the corresponding queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) to open connections with and make the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) thereof as the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), for the service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28) and/or the user service and/or information request iq_(n) (27).

Information from the current request group QA_(nc) (50) having the corresponding queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) is formulated into the corresponding request pointer/address group QZ_(n) (60) having the pointers/addresses PG_(n1) . . . PG_(nz) (61) associated therewith, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 15.

Each of the pointers/addresses PG_(n1) . . . PG_(nz) (61) are directed to point/address the corresponding addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) associated therewith, which aid in obtaining services and/or information from the certain ones of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) to be incorporated into the query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63).

Ones of the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) may be associated with corresponding ones of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62).

Each of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) associated with the service and/or information request IQ_(n) has the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64) directed to address/point services and/or information in the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57), based upon the grouping and/or sorting criteria.

Information and/or services in the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) is addressed with the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64) from the query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62), and information and/or services from the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) is incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) corresponding to the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64), which are formulated by the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62), in accordance with the grouping and/or sorting criteria.

FIGS. 11 and 15 show the request pointer/address group QZ_(n) (60), the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62), the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64), associated ones of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57), and the query information group GI_(nz) (63) associated with the query pointer/address group QG_(nz) (62). FIGS. 11 and 15 show the rth pointers/addresses PP_(n1r) . . . PP_(nmr) (64), which point to the rth optional addressable pointer/address indices IN_(nmr) . . . IN_(nmr) (81) of the corresponding rth individual information groups LG_(n1r) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) associated with the query pointer/address group QG_(nz) (62) and the associated query information group GI_(nz) (63).

FIG. 28 shows the request pointer/address group QZ_(n) (60), a particular one of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62), designated as the query pointer/address group QG_(nz) (62), the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64), associated ones of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57), and the query information group GI_(nz) (63) associated with the query pointer/address group QG_(nz) (62).

The addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) each have corresponding ones of query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) associated therewith. Each of the query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) have information and/or services therein, which are derived from information and/or services obtained from the certain ones of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57), which are addressed to provide such information with the aid of the corresponding pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64). Each of the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64) are directed to point/address information and/or services in the corresponding response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) associated therewith, which the information and/or services incorporated into the ones of the query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) associated with the corresponding addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) is obtained therefrom.

The addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) may be used to aid in formulating the query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), having information obtained from the addressable response information groups RG_(nm) (57), resulting from certain ones of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) grouped one with the other and/or the associated ones of the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54). The query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) may be presented to the user U_(n) (12) through the user interface I_(n) (14). The addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) may be derived from query criteria in the optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52) and/or using default criteria resident within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16).

Query grouping criteria giving the user U_(n) (12) the ability to formulate the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) may be incorporated into the optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52), which may be entered into the user interface I_(n) (14) through the user input UI_(n) (25) by the user U_(n) (12). Typically, however, the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) having the same and/or substantially the same values are grouped one with the other in individual ones of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62). Default criteria may be resident within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16).

The size of the request pointer/address group QZ_(n) (60) and which particular ones of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding ones of the server addresses AQ₁₁ . . . AQ_(nm) (54) to use in the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29), and thus construction and/or formulation of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) to incorporate into the particular request pointer/address group QZ_(n) (60), and, thus, delivery of information in the query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) is determined by the current request groups QA_(1c) . . . QA_(nc) (50), which may be determined from the Group 327 and the Searches per Group 326, the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding ones of the server addresses AQ₁₁ . . . AQ_(nm) (54) therein. Certain ones of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) may be grouped one with the other in the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n11) . . . QG_(nmr) (62), which have the certain ones of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the corresponding ones of the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) associated therewith, and the corresponding pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64) associated with the certain ones of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), the corresponding ones of the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and certain ones of response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57).

Typical sorting and/or grouping criteria, for example, may group certain ones of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) having the same and/or substantially the same values grouped in a particular one of the query information groups GI_(nz) . . . GI_(nz) (63), designated as the query information group GI_(nz) (63).

Alternatively and/or additionally, other typical sorting and/or grouping criteria, for example, may group certain ones of the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), having the same and/or substantially the same values grouped in a particular one of the query information groups GI_(nz) . . . GI_(nz) (63), designated as the query information group GI_(nz) (63), as shown in FIG. 30.

FIGS. 28–30 show the rth pointers/addresses PP_(ner) (64), PP_(nrr) (64), and PP_(nwr) (64), which point to the rth optional addressable pointer/address indices IN_(ner) (81), IN_(nrr) (81), and IN_(nwr) (81) of the corresponding rth individual information groups LG_(ner) (80), LG_(nrr) (80), and LG_(nwr) (80) of the addressable response information groups RG_(nc) (57), RG_(nr) (57), and RG_(nw) (57) associated with the query pointer/address group QG_(nz) (62) and the associated query information group GI_(nz) (63).

Alternatively and/or additionally, the user U_(n) (12) may select query grouping criteria, which simply provides information to the user interface I_(n) (14), separately with respect to the individual server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), as shown in FIGS. 12 and 16. For example, the query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), may alternatively and/or additionally be correspondingly associated with the server address AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and, thus, may be correspondingly associated with the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57). The query information group GI_(n1) (63) may, thus, be associated with the server address AQ_(n1) (54), the addressable response information group RG_(n1) (57), and the query information group GI_(n1) (63); the query information group GI_(n2) (63) may, thus, be associated with the server address AQ_(n2) (54), the addressable response information group RG_(n2) (57), and the query information group GI_(n2) (63), and so on; and the query information group GI_(nz) (63) may, thus, be associated with the server address AQ_(nz) (54), the addressable response information group RG_(n2) (57), and the query information group GI_(nz) (63), as shown in FIGS. 12 and 16. The process 104 of deriving the service and/or information response IR_(n) (34) and/or the user service and/or information response ir_(n) (36) for the grouping and/or sorting criteria of FIGS. 12 and 16 is shown in FIG. 22-1B.

The pointing/addressing scheme of FIGS. 12 and 16 is, of course, a much simpler pointing/addressing scheme than the pointing/addressing scheme of FIGS. 11 and 15, and does not require incorporating the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) into the request pointer/address group QZ_(n) (60). Each of the pointers/addresses PF_(n11) . . . PF_(nmr) (69), of FIGS. 12 and 16, may then be directed to point/address the corresponding response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) directly from the request pointer/address group QY_(ns) (68), to obtain information from the corresponding response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) and incorporation into corresponding ones of the corresponding query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), as shown in FIGS. 12 and 16. In this case, the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) may be bypassed and/or eliminated completely, thus simplifying the process. Of course, then, in this case, the resulting sorting and grouping is not as sophisticated, and allows for such simplification.

The above sorting criteria addressing schemes are meant only as typical examples of sorting criteria addressing schemes that may be used. Yet other sorting criteria addressing schemes and/or combinations thereof may be used.

FIG. 31 shows typical ones of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) having the typical ones of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), the typical ones of the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the corresponding ones of typical ones of the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64) having the same ones of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) grouped one with the other in individual ones of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62).

More particularly, FIG. 31 shows the query pointer/address group QG_(n1) (62), the query pointer/address group QG_(n2) (62), and the query pointer/address group QG_(n3) (62). The query pointer/address group QG_(n1) (62) of FIG. 31 has the same ones of the queries QQ_(n1) (53), QQ_(n2) (53), QQ_(n3) (53), and QQ_(n9) (53), the ones of the server addresses AQ_(n1) (54), AQ_(n2) (54), AQ_(n3) (54), and AQ_(n9) (54), and the ones of the pointers/addresses PP_(n1r) (64), PP_(n2r) (64), PP_(n3r) (64), and PP_(n9r) (64) associated therewith. The query pointer/address group QG_(n2) (62) of FIG. 31 has the same ones of the queries QQ_(n4) (53) and QQ_(n7) (53), the ones of the server addresses AQ_(n4) (54) and AQ_(n7) (54) the ones of the pointer/addresses PP_(n4r) (64) and PP_(n7r) (64) associated therewith. The query pointer/address group QG_(n3) (62) of FIG. 31 has the same ones of the query values QQ_(n5) (53), QQ_(n6) (53), and QQ_(n8) (53), the ones of the server addresses AQ_(n5) (54), AQ_(n6) (54), and AQ_(n8) (54) and the ones of the pointers/addresses PP_(n5r) (64), PP_(n6r) (64), and PP_(n8r) (64) associated therewith.

The addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62), however, may alternatively and/or additionally be grouped, for example, by the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) and have the corresponding query values QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) associated therewith. Ones of the same and/or substantially the same ones of the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), for example, having the corresponding queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) associated therewith may be used as the grouping criteria.

FIG. 32A shows another schematic representation of the typical ones of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) having the typical ones of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), the typical ones of the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the typical the ones of the pointer/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64) of FIG. 31 associated therewith.

FIG. 32B is a generic schematic representation of the addressable query pointer/address groups QG_(n1) . . . QG_(nz) (62) having the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the pointers/addresses PP_(n11) . . . PP_(nmr) (64) associated therewith.

Certain information in the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) may be associated with the corresponding queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and/or the corresponding server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) within the current request group QA_(nc) (50), and may optionally be used by the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16).

Certain information in the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) may also be incorporated into the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52). Such information may be incorporated into the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) and/or may also be additionally and/or alternatively optionally resident within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16).

J. Communicating the Requests to the Servers

The server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) contact and open the connections OC₁₁ . . . OC_(nm) (323) with ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), according to the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30) at the corresponding server addresses A₁₁ . . . A_(nu) (265) at corresponding ports W₁₁ . . . W_(nm) (343). The server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) communicate the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of one or more of the same and/or different ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), designated within the Group 327 and the Searches per Group 326 to make the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nc) (29) thereof, in accordance with the designation scheme corresponding to the corresponding ones of the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29). If the Group 327 is not specified and/or the Searches per Group 326 are not specified by the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12), default values may additionally and/or alternatively values be used.

A particular one of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), hereinafter designated as the request Q_(nm) (29), corresponding to one request within the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) corresponding to the user U_(n) (12), is shown schematically in FIG. 34.

Information 344 that may be used for formulating a typical particular one of the requests Q_(nm) (29) from the service and/or information request IQ_(n) (28), and parsing, processing, and/or formatting the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), and opening the connection OC_(nm) (323) is shown in FIG. 33.

Now, in more detail, the request Q_(nm) (29) may have a corresponding request line L_(nm) (345), corresponding optional request header fields JH_(n1) . . . JH_(ns) (346), and a corresponding optional entity body EH_(nm) (347). The request line L_(nm) (345) may have a corresponding method M_(nm) (348), a corresponding target resource P_(nm) (349), which may have information associated with the corresponding query QQ_(nm) (53), and corresponding protocol B_(nm) (350).

The user U_(n) (12), the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) may optionally specify the port W_(nm) (343) to communicate the request Q_(nm) (29) therethrough, and/or the method M_(nm) (348), and/or the protocol B_(nm) (350). The port W_(nm) (343), and/or the method M_(nm) (348), and/or the protocol B_(nm) (350) may optionally be resident within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16). Default values may also be used for the port W_(nm) (343) and/or the protocol B_(nm) (350).

Typically, information within or from any and/or all or a portion of the queries QQ_(nm) (53) may be incorporated into the corresponding ones of the target resources P₁₁ . . . P_(nm) (349) and/or the corresponding ones of the optional entity bodies EH₁₁ . . . EH_(nm) (347), and may in certain instances depend upon the method M₁₁ . . . M_(nm) (348).

However, information that may be used for opening the connections OC₁₁ . . . OC_(nm) (323) and formulating the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) from the service and/or information requests IQ₁ . . . IQ_(n) (28) may be derived from any and/or all or a portion of the user client requests QC₁₁ . . . QC_(nu) (280) accessible to the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) and/or the hidden client requests HC_(n1) . . . HC_(nh) (281) hidden from the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12), and/or a combination thereof, and/or may also have information and/or instructions to be utilized by the server PS (18) and/or ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16).

Alternatively information from the alternate request links QL₁₁ . . . QL_(nu) (203), and/or the server request links UL₁₁ . . . UL_(ns) (204), and/or the additional request links SL₁₁ . . . SL_(nw) (71), and/or a combination thereof, may be used by the server PS (18) and/or ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) to formulate the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29).

The user client requests QC_(n1) . . . QC_(nu) (280) accessible to the user U_(n) (12) have server requests portion SQ_(n) (282), optional instructions portion V_(n) (283), and alternate request portion AL_(n) (284).

The hidden client requests HC_(n1) . . . HC_(nh) (281) hidden from the user U_(n) (12) has optional hidden server requests portion HQ_(n) (285), optional hidden instructions portion HO_(n) (286), and optional hidden information portion J_(n) (287).

There may be m different or same ones of the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) from the client C_(n) (16) at any time, and n×m different and/or same ones of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the same and/or different ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) present on the network 24 at any time.

The queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) may each be different, one from the other, or the same. The queries QS_(n1) . . . QS_(nu) (288) accessible to the user U_(n) (12) may each be different, one from the other, or the same. The hidden queries QH_(n1) . . . QH_(nh) (290) may each be different, one from the other, or the same. The number of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) “m” may be substantially the sum of the queries QS_(n1) . . . QS_(nu) (288) accessible to the user U_(n) (12) and the hidden queries QH_(n1) . . . QH_(nh) (290), i.e., m=u+h.

There may be m different or same ones of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) from the client C_(n) (16) at any time, and n×m different and/or same ones of the queries QQ₁₁ . . . QQ_(nm) (53) corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the same and/or different ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) present on the network 24 at any time.

The server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) may each be different, one from the other, or the same. The server addresses A_(n1) . . . A_(nu) (265) accessible to the user U_(n) (12) may each be different, one from the other, or the same. The hidden server addresses AH_(n1) . . . AH_(nh) (291) may each be different, one from the other, or the same. The number of the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) “m” may be substantially the sum of the server addresses A_(n1) . . . A_(nu) (265) accessible to the user U_(n) (12) and the hidden server addresses AH_(n1) . . . AH_(nh) (291), i.e., m=u+h.

There may be m different or same ones of the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) from the client C_(n) (16) at any time, and n×m different and/or same ones of the server addresses AQ₁₁ . . . AQ_(nm) (54) corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the same and/or different ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) present on the network 24 at any time.

The optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) may each be different, one from the other, or the same. The optional instructions V_(n1) . . . V_(nv) (289) accessible to the user U_(n) (12) may each be different, one from the other, or the same. The optional hidden instructions H_(n1) . . . H_(ni) (292) may each be different, one from the other, or the same. The number of the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) “k” may be substantially the sum of the optional instructions V_(n1) . . . V_(nv) (289) accessible to the user U_(n) (12) and The optional hidden instructions H_(n1) . . . H_(ni) (292), i.e., k=v+i.

There may be m×k different or same ones of the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) from the client C_(n) (16) at any time, and n×m×k different and/or same ones of the optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52) corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the same and/or different ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) present on the network 24 at any time.

The requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) may be made at the same and/or different times. One or more of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) may be made of each of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) by the same/and or different ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18) at the same and/or different times.

The server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16) may make one or more of the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) of the same and/or different ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme corresponding to the corresponding ones of the server designations S_(n1) . . . S_(nm) (30), in order to fulfill the services and/or information requirements of the user U_(n) (12).

K. Replies from the Servers

Each of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) communicated therewith replies to the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) being communicated with corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), and communicates the corresponding responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32), associated with the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), to the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) making the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29).

Now, ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) having been contacted by the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) and the connections OC₁₁ . . . OC_(nm) (323) opened therewith, corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), according to the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30) at the corresponding server addresses A₁₁ . . . A_(nu) (265) at the corresponding ports W₁₁ . . . W_(nm) (343) reply to the server PS (18) and/or the contacting clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) with the corresponding responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32).

A particular one of the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32), hereinafter designated as the response R_(nm) (32), corresponding to one response within the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32), the response R_(nm) (32) corresponding to the request Q_(nm) (29), and the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) corresponding to the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29), is shown schematically in FIG. 35.

Now, the response R_(nm) (32) may have a corresponding response header line LR_(nm) (351), corresponding optional response header fields JR_(n1) . . . JR_(nt) (352), and a corresponding optional entity body RH_(nm) (353). The optional entity body RH_(nm) (353) typically has links, and/or descriptions, and/or other information. The request header line LR_(nm) (351) may have a corresponding protocol BR_(nm) (354), a corresponding status SR_(nm) (355), and a corresponding status explanation SE_(nm) (356).

Ones of the connections may be closed after ones of the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32) are communicated to the PS (18) and/or to the requesting corresponding ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16).

Again, the Timeout per Search Engine 329 is considered to be substantially the maximum time for the server PS (18) and/or the particular client C_(n) (16) making the requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) to wait for each of the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) from certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), in accordance with the designation scheme which designates the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) to be communicated with corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) as the corresponding server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30).

If certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) do not open connections OC₁₁ . . . OC_(nm) (323) with and/or communicate the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32) to the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), and/or if certain other ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) do not communicate the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32) to the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) once connections OC₁₁ . . . OC_(nm) (323) therewith may have been opened, corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), according to the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), within the timeout set by the Timeout per Search Engine 329, the certain ones of requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) of such nonresponding ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) may then be cancelled by the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16). Information about such ones of the nonresponding ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) may then be communicated from the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) through the corresponding ones of the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) to the corresponding ones of the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12), according to the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30) corresponding to the certain ones of requests Q_(n1) . . . Q_(nm) (29) of such nonresponding ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20).

In certain instances, the server PS (18) and/or certain ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may contact certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) and open the connections OC₁₁ . . . OC_(nm) (323) therewith, corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), according to the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), one or more additional times, in order to satisfy the needs of the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12), and/or certain requirements within the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), such as, for example, the URL's per Search Engine 330, and/or as a result of certain information communicated to the PS (18) and/or certain ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) within the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32).

If, for example, less links, and/or descriptions, and/or prices/values, and/or images are returned within certain ones of the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32), which may be considered to be first ones of the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32), than are requested by certain ones of the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) within certain ones of the URL's per Search Engine 330, the server PS (18) and/or certain ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may contact certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), open the connections OC₁₁ . . . OC_(nm) (323) therewith, and make additional ones of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), according to the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), one or more additional times, in order to satisfy the needs of the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12). The links, and/or the descriptions, and/or the images returned within and/or parsed from additional ones of the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32) to the additional ones of the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) may then be appended to the corresponding ones of the links, and/or the corresponding ones of the descriptions, and/or the corresponding ones of the images returned within and parsed from the first ones of the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32)

The servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) communicate the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32) to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) to the server PS (18) and/or specific ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), in accordance with the designation scheme corresponding to the corresponding ones of the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30). Alternatively, and/or additionally, in certain instances, certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), corresponding to certain ones of the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), may request additional information of the server PS (18) and/or specific ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), prior to communicating the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32) to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29). Upon receiving such additional information from the server PS (18) and/or the specific ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), corresponding to the certain ones of the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), may then communicate the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32) to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29) to the server PS (18) and/or the specific ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16).

In such certain instances, in more detail, the server PS (18) and/or certain ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may contact certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) and open the connections OC₁₁ . . . OC_(nm) (323) therewith, corresponding to the requests Q₁₁ . . . Q_(nm) (29), according to the server designations S₁₁ . . . S_(nm) (30), one or more additional times, as a result of certain information communicated to the PS (18) and/or certain ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) within the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32), such as, for example, information obtained from and/or parsed from the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32). This information is typically within certain ones of the response header fields JR₁₁ . . . JR_(nt) (352), but may also be within the corresponding optional entity bodies RH₁₁ . . . RH_(nm) (353) and/or the corresponding response header lines LR₁₁ . . . LR_(nm) (351).

Now, in such certain instances, the certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) request the information from the server PS (18) and/or certain ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), prior to communicating the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32) to the server PS (18) and/or the certain ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16). The server PS (18) and/or the certain ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) being requested such information may then respond to the requests for such information, by communicating the requested information to the ones of the requesting servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20). Upon receipt of the requested information at the ones of the requesting servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), the requesting ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) reply to the server PS (18) and/or the certain ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) with the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32). Such requests for information from the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) may occur not at all, and/or one or more times.

L. Parsing, Processing, Formatting, Sorting, Grouping, and Organizing Responses into Service and/or Information Responses

A particular one of the optional entity bodies R₁₁ . . . RH_(nm) (353), designated as the entity body RH_(nm) (353), of a particular one of the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32), designated as the response R_(nm) (32), may have optional response individual information groups LS_(nm1) . . . LS_(nmr) (360) and optional information LI_(nm) (361), as shown in FIG. 36.

Each of the optional response individual information groups LS_(nm1) . . . LS_(nmr) (360) may have and/or be parsed into corresponding optional response links LK_(nm1) . . . LK_(nmr) (362), and/or corresponding optional response descriptions DK_(nm1) . . . DK_(nmr) (363), and/or corresponding optional response prices/values PK_(nm1) . . . PK_(nmr) (364), and/or corresponding optional response images IK_(nm1) . . . IK_(nmr) (365), as shown in FIG. 36.

The optional response links LK_(nm1) . . . LK_(nmr) (362), the corresponding optional response descriptions DK_(nm1) . . . DK_(nmr) (363), the corresponding optional response prices/values PK_(nm1) . . . PK_(nmr) (364), and the corresponding optional response images IK_(nm1) . . . IK_(nmr) (365), corresponding to the optional response individual information groups LS_(nm1) . . . LS_(nmr) (360) are typically associated correspondingly one with the other.

The optional response link LK_(nm1) (362), the corresponding optional response description DK_(nm1) (363), the corresponding optional response price/value PK_(nm1) (364), and the corresponding optional response image IK_(nm1) (365), corresponding to the optional response individual information group LS_(nm1) (360) are typically associated correspondingly one with the other. The optional response link LK_(nm2) (362), the corresponding optional response description DK_(nm2) (363), the corresponding optional response price/value PK_(nm2) (364), and the corresponding optional response image IK_(nm2) (365), corresponding to the optional response individual information group LS_(nm2) (360) are typically associated correspondingly one with the other, and so on. The optional response link LK_(nmr) (362), the corresponding optional response description DK_(nmr) (363), the corresponding optional response price/value PK_(nmr) (364), and the corresponding optional response image IK_(nmr) (365), corresponding to the optional response individual information group LS_(nmr) (360) are, thus, typically associated correspondingly one with the other.

The optional information LI_(nm) (361) may have additional links, and/or additional descriptions, and/or additional images, and/or prices/values, and/or other information, and/or services, and/or media, all and/or a portion of which may be used and/or discarded by the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16). The optional information LI_(nm) (361) is typically filtered from the optional entity body RH_(nm) (353) and discarded, and/or other unwanted information and/or media is also typically filtered from the response R_(nm) (32), and/or the optional entity body RH_(nm) (353), and discarded.

The optional response individual information groups LS_(nm1) . . . LS_(nmr) (360) are typically parsed and/or processed and/or formatted from the entity body RH_(nm) (353) of the response R_(nm) (32), and/or parsed, and/or processed, and/or formatted, and/or organized, and/or grouped into the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) of the addressable response information group RG_(nm) (57), correspondingly associated with the response R_(nm) (32), as shown in FIGS. 37 and 38.

FIG. 37 shows the addressable response information group RG_(nm) (57) having the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) parsed, and/or processed, and/or formatted, and/or organized, and/or grouped into the addressable response information group RG_(nm) (57) from the optional entity body RH_(nm) (353) of FIG. 36.

FIG. 38 shows a particular one of the optional response individual information groups LS_(nm1) . . . LS_(nmr) (360), designated as the optional response individual information group LS_(nmr) (360), parsed, and/or processed, and/or formatted, and/or organized, and/or grouped into a particular one of the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80), designated as the addressable individual information group LG_(nmr) (80).

The addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) are typically parsed, and/or processed, and/or formatted for consistency of presentation and/or appearance one with the other, as the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) are incorporated into the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) from the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32).

Alternatively and/or additionally the addressable individual information groups LG_(nm1) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) may be incorporated into the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) from the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) in an as-is condition and/or in raw form.

The optional response links LK_(nm1) . . . LK_(nmr) (362) are typically parsed, and/or processed, and/or formatted into the corresponding optional links LD_(nm1) . . . LD_(nmr) (82). The optional response descriptions DK_(nm1) . . . DK_(nmr) (363) are typically parsed, and/or processed, and/or formatted into the optional descriptions DD_(nm1) . . . DD_(nmr) (83). The optional response prices/values PK_(nm1) . . . PK_(nmr) (364) are typically parsed, and/or processed, and/or formatted into the corresponding optional prices/values PD_(nm1) . . . PD_(nmr) (84). The optional response images IK_(nm1) . . . IK_(nmr) (365) are typically parsed, and/or processed, and/or formatted into the corresponding optional images ID_(nm1) . . . ID_(nmr) (85).

Each of the optional links LD_(m1) . . . LD_(mr) (82) are also typically parsed, and/or processed, and/or formatted for consistency of presentation and/or appearance one with the other. Alternatively and/or additionally the optional links LD_(nm1) . . . LD_(nmr) (82) may be retained in an as-is condition and/or in raw form.

Each of the optional descriptions DD_(nm1) . . . DD_(nmr) (83) are also typically parsed, and/or processed, and/or formatted for consistency of presentation and/or appearance one with the other. Alternatively and/or additionally the optional links optional descriptions DD_(nm1) . . . DD_(nmr) (83) may be retained in an as-is condition and/or in raw form.

Each of the optional prices/values PD_(nm1) . . . PD_(nmr) (84) are also typically parsed, and/or processed, and/or formatted for consistency of presentation and/or appearance one with the other. Alternatively and/or additionally the optional prices/values PD_(nm1) . . . PD_(nmr) (84) may be retained in an as-is condition and/or in raw form.

Each of the optional images ID_(nm1) . . . ID_(nmr) (85) are also typically parsed, and/or processed, and/or formatted for consistency of presentation and/or appearance one with the other. Alternatively and/or additionally the optional images ID_(nm1) . . . ID_(nmr) (85) may be retained in an as-is condition and/or in raw form.

The optional links LD_(nm1) . . . LD_(nmr) (82), and/or the optional descriptions DD_(nm1) . . . DD_(nmr) (83), and/or the optional prices/values PD_(nm1) . . . PD_(nmr) (84), and/or the optional images ID_(nm1) . . . ID_(nmr) (85), correspondingly associated with the response R_(nm) (32), may additionally and/or alternatively be parsed individually and/or separately, and incorporated into the addressable response information group RG_(nm) (57) from the optional entity body RH_(nm) (353), as shown in FIG. 39.

The response header line LR_(nm) (351) and/or the optional response header fields JR_(n1) . . . JR_(nt) (352) may also have information, which the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) may use.

The optional information LI_(nm) (361) and/or certain information and/or media within the response R_(nm) (32), particularly within the optional entity body RH_(nm) (353), may be optionally used by the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), and/or optionally incorporated into the addressable response information group RG_(nm) (57).

Each of the optional response individual information groups LS_(nm1) . . . LS_(nmr) (360) from each of the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) may be compared one with the other, and duplicate ones of the of the optional response individual information groups LS_(nm1) . . . LS_(nmr) (360) may be discarded.

Alternatively and/or additionally, each of the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(n11) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) from each of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) may be compared one with the other, and duplicate ones of the optional addressable individual information groups LG_(n11) . . . LG_(nmr) (80) may be discarded.

Each of the optional response individual information groups LS₁₁₁ . . . LS_(nmr) (360) and/or portions thereof from the entity bodies RH₁₁ . . . RH_(nm) (353) of the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32) may also be optionally compared one with the other, and duplicate ones of the of the optional response individual information groups LS₁₁₁ . . . LS_(nmr) (360) may be optionally discarded.

Alternatively and/or additionally, each of the optional links LK_(n11) . . . LK_(nmr) (362), and/or the optional descriptions DK_(n11) . . . DK_(nmr) (363), and/or the optional prices/values PK_(nm1) . . . PK_(nmr) (364), and/or the optional images IK_(n11) . . . IK_(nmr) (365), from each of the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) may be compared one with the other of like kind, and duplicate ones of the optional links LK_(n11) . . . LK_(nmr) (362), and/or the optional descriptions DK_(n11) . . . DK_(nmr) (363), and/or the optional prices/values PK_(nm1) . . . PK_(nmr) (364), and/or the optional images IK_(n11) . . . IK_(nmr) (365), and/or a combination thereof may be discarded.

Alternatively and/or additionally, each of the optional links LD_(n11) . . . LD_(nmr) (82), and/or the optional descriptions DD_(n11) . . . DD_(nmr) (83), and/or the optional prices/values PD_(nm1) . . . PD_(nmr) (84), and/or the optional images ID_(n11) . . . ID_(nmr) (85) from each of the addressable response information groups RG_(n1) . . . RG_(nm) (57) may be compared one with the other of like kind, and duplicate ones of the optional links LD_(n11) . . . LD_(nmr) (82), and/or the optional descriptions DD_(n11) . . . DD_(nmr) (83), and/or the optional prices/values PD_(nm1) . . . PD_(nmr) (84), and/or the optional images ID_(n11) . . . ID_(nmr) (85), and/or a combination thereof may be discarded.

The optional links LK_(n11) . . . LK_(nmr) (362) are typically compared one with the other, and duplicate ones of the corresponding optional links LK_(n11) . . . LK_(nmr) (362), and/or the corresponding optional descriptions DK_(n11) . . . DK_(nmr) (363), and/or the corresponding optional images IK_(n11) . . . IK_(nmr) (365), and/or the corresponding optional prices/values PK_(nm1) . . . PK_(nmr) (364) are discarded, leaving only one of any ones of the duplicate optional links LK_(n11) . . . LK_(nmr) (362) and/or the corresponding optional descriptions DK_(n11) . . . DK_(nmr) (363), and/or the corresponding optional images IK_(n11) . . . IK_(nmr) (365), and/or the optional prices/values PK_(nm1) . . . PK_(nmr) (364) remaining.

The optional prices/values PD_(nm1) . . . PD_(nmr) (84) and/or the corresponding optional links LD_(n11) . . . LD_(nmr) (82) and/or the corresponding optional descriptions DD_(n11) . . . DD_(nmr) (83), and/or the corresponding optional images ID_(n11) . . . ID_(nmr) (85) may be sorted with respect to the optional prices/values PD_(nm1) . . . PD_(nmr) (84), in accordance with sorting criteria in the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) and/or in accordance with default criteria resident within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16).

The optional links LD_(n11) . . . LD_(nmr) (82), and/or the corresponding optional descriptions DD_(n11) . . . DD_(nmr) (83), and/or the corresponding optional prices/values PD_(nm1) . . . PD_(nmr) (84), and/or the corresponding optional images ID_(n11) . . . ID_(nmr) (85) may be sorted, for example, in ascending order with respect to the optional prices/values PD_(nm1) . . . PD_(nmr) (84) having the lowest price therein being presented to the user U_(n) (12) at the user interface I_(n) (14) first and the highest price therein last.

Alternatively and/or additionally, the optional links LD_(n11) . . . LD_(nmr) (82), and/or the corresponding optional descriptions DD_(n11) . . . DD_(nmr) (83), and/or the corresponding optional prices/values PD_(nm1) . . . PD_(nmr) (84), and/or the corresponding optional images ID_(n11) . . . ID_(nmr) (85) may be sorted, for example, in ascending or descending alphabetical order with respect to the optional links LD_(n11) . . . LD_(nmr) (82) and/or the corresponding optional descriptions DD_(n11) . . . DD_(nmr) (83) being presented to the user U_(n) (12) at the user interface I_(n) (14).

Other sorting criteria may be used for the optional links LD_(n11) . . . LD_(nmr) (82), and/or the optional descriptions DD_(n11) . . . DD_(nmr) (83), and/or the optional prices/values PD_(nm1) . . . PD_(nmr) (84), and/or the optional images ID_(n11) . . . ID_(nmr) (85), and may depend upon needs of the user U_(n) (12). The sorting criteria may be determined by the user U_(n) (12).

Sorting criteria gives the user U_(n) (12) the ability to formulate how information is presented to the user U_(n) (12) at the user interface I_(n) (14), and may be incorporated into the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), which may be entered into the user interface I_(n) (14) through the user input UI_(n) (25) by the user U_(n) (12). The sorting criteria may additionally and/or alternatively be resident within the server PS (18) and/or the client C_(n) (16).

Now again, the labelled individual information group LL_(nzu) (86) associated with the addressable query information group GI_(nz) (63) has the optional group identifier GL_(nc) (87), the optional query link identifier LN_(ncu) (88), the optional resource location identifier SU_(nw) (89), the optional server and/or query identifier SI_(nm) (90), and/or the optional server link identifier LX_(nmr) (91) appended to the addressable individual information group LG_(nmr) (80), as shown in FIG. 20.

FIGS. 40 and 41 show typical ones of the addressable query information group GI_(nz) (63), based upon certain sorting and/or grouping criteria, having the labelled individual information groups LL_(nz1) . . . LL_(nzu) (86), the optional database labelled individual information groups RL_(nz1) . . . RL_(nzx) (92), the optional query description QT_(nz) (93), the optional server descriptions and/or links ST_(nz1) . . . ST_(nzf) (94), and the optional advertisements and/or links LT_(nz1) . . . LT_(nzt) (95) incorporated into certain typical ones of the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n) (39).

The client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention, the client-server multitasking process 99, and the multitasking process 104, the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), then, are capable of retrieving, parsing, processing, formatting, organizing, grouping, sorting, and consolidating services and/or information from the same and/or different ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), and/or the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), having the same and/or different structures, formats, organizations, groupings, and/or data structures, and incorporating the parsed, processed, formatted, organized, grouped, sorted, and consolidated services and/or information into the user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37) for delivery to the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) and use by the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12).

The client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention, the client-server multitasking process 99, and the multitasking process 104, the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), then, are capable of retrieving, parsing, processing, formatting, organizing, grouping, sorting, and consolidating services and/or information from the same and/or different ones of each of the optional response individual information groups LS₁₁₁ . . . LS_(nmr) (360), and/or the optional response links LK₁₁₁ . . . LK_(nmr) (362), and/or the optional response descriptions DK₁ μl . . . DK_(nmr) (363), and/or the optional response prices/values PK₁₁₁ . . . PK_(nmr) (364), and/or the optional response images IK_(nm1) . . . IK_(nmr) (365) from the entity bodies RH₁₁ . . . RH_(nm) (353) of the responses R₁₁ . . . R_(nm) (32), having the same and/or different structures, formats, organizations, groupings, and/or data structures, and incorporating the parsed, processed, formatted, organized, grouped, sorted, and consolidated services and/or information into the user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37) for delivery to the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) and use by the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12).

M. Typical Service and/or Information Entry Request Forms, Typical Completed Service and/or Information Entry Request Forms, and Typical Service and/or Information Response Forms

FIG. 42 shows a typical one of service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), which the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) may communicate typical ones of the user inputs UI₁ . . . UI_(n) (25) thereinto, as requests for information and/or services. The typical ones of the service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) shown in FIG. 42 is a typical example one of the service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), a much larger variety of which is possible. Names and/or links and/or other information are incorporated into the typical one of the service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38) shown in FIG. 42 are for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the large variety of the service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38) and the names and/or links and/or information that are possible, and that may be incorporated into the service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14). A particular one of the service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38) may hereinafter be designated as the service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) (38), at the particular user interface I_(n) (14).

FIG. 43 shows a typical particular one of the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230), which may hereinafter be designated the completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) (230), at a particular one of the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), which may hereinafter be designated the user interface I_(n) (14), having same and different ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), different ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52). Typical same ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), are “Cat”, “Dog”, and “Mouse”, which are different one from the other.

FIGS. 44A–46C, inclusive, show typical ones of the user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37), as typical service and/or information response forms IS₁ . . . IS_(n) (39) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), which may be communicated to the corresponding ones of the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12). A typical particular one of the user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37), as a particular typical one of the service and/or information response forms IS₁ . . . IS_(n) (39) at the particular one of the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) may hereinafter be designated as the user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14).

FIGS. 44A–46C, inclusive, also show information in each of the typical ones of the user responses UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14), pertaining to the “Current Group”, the “Previous Group”, if appropriate, the “Next Group”, if appropriate, and each “Group” by alphanumerics. FIGS. 44A–46C, inclusive, also show information in each of the typical ones of the user responses UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n) (39) at the user interfaces I_(n) (14), pertaining to links to additional selections, and/or links to previous selections, if appropriate, and/or links to future selections, if appropriate, that may be made by pointing to and clicking on the selections to be made.

FIGS. 44A–46C, inclusive, show typical ones of the user responses UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14), with reference to FIG. 43, having information and/or services from the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) incorporated therein, and incorporated into Group I, Group II, and Group III, respectively.

The user U_(n) (12) may optionally select Group II, and/or Group III from the typical one of the user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14) of FIG. 44A–44C, inclusive, and/or Group I and/or Group III at the user interface I_(n) (14) of FIGS. 45A–45C, inclusive, and/or Group I, and/or Group II at the user interface I_(n) (14) of FIGS. 46A–46C, inclusive. The user U_(n) (12) may also select Group I, and/or Group II, and/or Group III by entering such into the typical one of the service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) (38) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), and completing the typical completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) (230), at the user interface I_(n) (14) with the appropriate selections to be made.

The user U_(n) (12) may also make other selections by entering such into the typical one of the service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) (38) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), and completing the typical completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) (230), at the user interface I_(n) (14) with the appropriate selections to be made, and/or by making such selections through the typical ones of the user responses UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14). The user U_(n) (12) may typically make selections by pointing and clicking on the appropriate selections and/or by entering the desired information. Such information may be entered by any suitable means, including but not limited to mouse, keyboard entry, audible entry, and/or other suitable means.

FIGS. 44A–46C, inclusive, show typical ones of the user responses UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14), having the service and/or information group G_(n) (35) having the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) therein, the labelled individual information groups LL_(n11) . . . LL_(nzu) (86) in the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), the additional request links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw) (71), the optional service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) (38), and other information and/or services therein, resulting from the same and different ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), different ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52).

FIGS. 44A–46C, inclusive, show typical ones of the user responses UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14), resulting from the typical ones of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), “Cat”, “Mouse”, and “Dog”, the same ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(n3) (53) and QQ_(n9) (53) being “Cat”, other same ones of the typical queries QQ_(n4) (53) and QQ_(n7) (53) being “Mouse”, but different from “Cat”, and other same ones of the typical queries QQ_(n5), QQ_(n6) (53), and QQ_(n8) (53) being “Dog”, but different from “Cat” and/or “Mouse”, the typical ones of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), “Cat”, “Dog”, and “Mouse”, being different one from the other.

The typical same ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(n3) (53) as “Cat” are incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) (63) of Group I.

The typical one of the queries QQ_(n4) (53) as “Mouse” is incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) (63) of Group II. The other same ones of the typical queries QQ_(n5) and QQ_(n6) (53) as “Dog” are incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n2) (63) of Group II.

The typical one of the queries QQ_(n7) (53) as “Mouse” is incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) (63) of Group III. The typical one of the queries QQ_(n8) (53) as “Dog” is incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n2) (63) of Group III. The typical one of the queries QQ_(n9) (53) as “Cat” is incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n3) (63) of Group III.

FIGS. 44A–46C, inclusive, show typical ones of the user responses UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14), with reference to FIG. 43 having: “Search Engine Results” as “Interleave”; “URL's per Search Engine” as “10”; “URL Details” as “Summary”; “Timeout (seconds) per Search Engine” as “3”; “Page” as “1”; “Searches per Group as “3”; and “Group” as I, II, and III, respectively, for FIGS. 44A–46C, inclusive.

The typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) “URL's per Search Engine” as “10” instruct the client C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18) to return the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14) having substantially “10” ones of the typical labelled individual information groups LL_(n11) . . . LL_(nzu) (86) per each one of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) in the typical “Current Group”, retrieved from the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32). In this case, the typical labelled individual information groups LL_(n11) . . . LL_(nzu) (86) may be “Uniform Resource Locators”, or “URL's” and/or other services and/or information associated therewith.

The typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) “Searches per Group” as “3” instruct the client C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18) to return the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14) having “3 Searches per Group” for the group selected, which is designated in the typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) having “Group” as “1”.

“Group I”, which is the “Current Group: I”, has the first three searches (“Searches per Group” designated as “3”), i.e., Search 1, Search 2, and Search 3, having the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(n3) (53) of “Cat”, “Cat”, and “Cat” and the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(n3) (54) of WebCrawler®, Altavista®, and Lycos®.

The “Next Group: II” and/or the “Group: III” may be selected from the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14). If the “Next Group: II” is selected, then Search 4, Search 5, and Search 6, having the typical queries QQ_(n4) . . . QQ_(n6) (53) of “Mouse”, “Dog”, and “Dog” and the typical server addresses AQ_(n4) . . . AQ_(n6) (54) of Infoseek®, Excite®, and Yahoo® are selected and returned as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14). If the “Group: III” is selected, then Search 7, Search 8, and Search 9, having the typical queries QQ_(n7) . . . QQ_(n9) (53) of “Mouse”, “Dog”, and “Cat” and the typical server addresses AQ_(n7) . . . AQ_(n9) (54) of LookSmart®, HotBot®, and Dejanews® are selected and returned as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14).

The typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) having “URL's per Search Engine” as “10” and “Searches per Group” as “3”, then returns substantially “10 URL's per Search Engine” multiplied by “3 Searches per Group”, which is substantially “30 URL's per Group”, and/or other services and/or information associated therewith, returned in the “Current Group”.

The actual number of the typical “URL's per Group” may vary from the number of the “URL's per Search Engine” multiplied by the number of the “Searches per Group”, as duplicate ones of the “URL's” and/or other services and/or information associated therewith may typically be optionally discarded.

The typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) “Page” as “1” instruct the client C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18) to return the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14) having the first “10 URL's per Search Engine” which is substantially the first “30 URL's per Group”, and/or other services and/or information associated therewith, in the “Current Group”.

The “Next Page” and/or other pages may be selected, which in this typical case may be Pages 1–25, from the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14). If the “Next Page” is selected, then the next “10 URL's per Search Engine” which is substantially the next “30 URL's per Group”, and/or other services and/or information associated therewith, in the “Current Group” are and returned as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14). If, for example, the third “Page' is selected, then the third “10 URL's per Search Engine” which is substantially the third “30 URL's per Group”, and/or other services and/or information associated therewith, in the “Current Group” are selected and returned as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14).

The typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) of “Search Engine Results” as “Interleave” instruct the client C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18) to return the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14) having ones of the typical labelled individual information groups LL_(n11) . . . LL_(nzu) (86) and/or other services and/or information associated with the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) in the typical “Current Group”, portions of which have been retrieved from the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32), interleaved one with the other (or alternating one with the other) in the appropriate addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63). The “Interleaved” information and/or services may typically be incorporated into the appropriate addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) in the “Current Group” in substantially the same sequence as the information and/or services are in the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) communicated from the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20). However, other sorting/grouping criteria may optionally be used, as will be discussed later. In this case, the typical labelled individual information groups LL_(n11) . . . LL_(nzu) (86) may be “Uniform Resource Locators”, or “URL's” and/or other services and/or information associated therewith.

“Separate” may be selected from the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14), which instructs the client C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18) to return the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14) in “Separate” groups, i.e., grouped by the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) incorporated in the appropriate addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) in the “Current Group”.

The typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) “URL Details” as “Summary” instruct the client C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18) to return the typical user response UR_(n) (37) showing the typical labelled individual information groups LL_(n11) . . . LL_(nzu) (86) showing descriptions and/or other information and/or services, in addition to links, and/or URL's in the typical ones of the user responses UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14).

“List” may be selected from the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14), which instructs the client C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18) to return the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14) typically showing only links to URL's and/or other links in the typical ones of the user responses UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14).

The “Timeout (seconds) per Search Engine” instructs the client C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18) to return the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14) within a period of less than the “Timeout (seconds) per Search Engine” specified in the typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52). It should be noted that response times of less than one second per search engine are typical, and response times of substantially less than one second are quite common. However, the “Timeout (seconds) per Search Engine” has been incorporated herein for the user U₁ (12) to specify in the event of slow ones of the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) from certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20).

If the time it takes to retrieve information from certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) having the typical ones of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) at the typical ones of the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) is greater than the “Timeout” selected, then the client C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18) typically incorporate a message and/or messages, such as “No Results Found for ‘Query ’ x” at ‘Server Address ’ y” within “z” seconds!” for each of the non-responding certain ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), as shown later in FIGS. 44A–44C, inclusive. Information and/or services only from those ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20) responding within the “Timeout” period are then incorporated into the typical ones of the user responses UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14).

FIG. 47 shows the typical completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) (230), at the user interface I_(n) (14), having same and different ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), different ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52). Typical same ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) are “Cat”, “Dog”, and “Mouse”, which are different one from the other. Typical same ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) are HotBot®, WebCrawler®, and Dejanews®, which are different one from the other, and which are also different from Yahoo® and LookSmart®. The typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) have 5 “URL's per Search Engine”, which instruct the client C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18) to return the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14) having 5 “URL's per Search Engine”, rather than 10 “URL's per Search Engine”, as instructed in FIG. 43.

FIGS. 48–50 show typical ones of the user responses UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14), with reference to FIG. 47, having information and/or services from the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) incorporated therein, and incorporated into Group I, Group II, and Group III, respectively.

FIGS. 48–50 show typical ones of the user responses UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14), having the service and/or information group G_(n) (35) having the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) therein, the labelled individual information groups LL_(n11) . . . LL_(nzu) (86) in the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), the additional request links SL_(n1) . . . SL_(nw) (71), the optional service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) (38), and other information and/or services therein, resulting from the same and different ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), and the same and different ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), rather than results just from different ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) as in FIGS. 44A–46C, inclusive.

FIGS. 48–50 show the typical ones of the user responses UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14), resulting from the typical ones of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), “Cat”, “Dog”, and “Mouse”, the same ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1), QQ_(n3) (53), and QQ_(n9) (53) being “Cat”, other same ones of the typical queries QQ_(n2) (53), QQ_(n5) (53), QQ_(n6) (53), and QQ_(n8) (53) being “Dog”, but different from “Cat”, and other same ones of the typical queries QQ_(n4) and QQ_(n7) (53) being “Mouse”, but different from “Cat” and/or “Dog”, the typical ones of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), “Cat”, “Dog”, and “Mouse”, being different one from the other.

FIGS. 48–50 also show the typical ones of the user responses UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14), resulting from the typical ones of the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), HotBot®, WebCrawler®, Yahoo®, LookSmart®, and Dejanews®, the same ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) and AQ_(n2) (54) being HotBot®, other same ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n3) . . . AQ_(n5) (54), being WebCrawler®, but different from HotBot®, another one of the server addresses AQ_(n6) (54), being Yahoo®, but different from HotBot® and/or WebCrawler®, another one of the server addresses AQ_(n7) (54), being LookSmart®, but different from HotBot® and/or WebCrawler® and/or Yahoo®, and other same ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n8) (54) and QQ_(n9) (54) being Dejanews®, but different from HotBot® and/or WebCrawler® and/or Yahoo® and/or LookSmart®, the typical ones of the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), HotBot®, WebCrawler®, Yahoo®, LookSmart®, and Dejanews®, being different one from the other.

The typical same ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) and QQ_(n3) (53) as “Cat” are incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) (63) of Group I. The typical one of the queries QQ_(n2) (53) as “Cat” is incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n2) (63) of Group II.

The typical one of the queries QQ_(n4) (53) as “Mouse” is incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) (63) of Group II. The other same ones of the typical queries QQ_(n5) and QQ_(n6) (53) as “Dog are incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n2) (63) of Group II.

The typical one of the queries QQ_(n7) (53) as “Mouse” is incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) (63) of Group III. The typical one of the queries QQ_(n8) (53) as “Dog” is incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n2) (63) of Group III. The typical one of the queries QQ_(n9) (53) as “Cat” is incorporated into the addressable query information groups GI_(n3) (63) of Group III.

FIGS. 48–50 show typical ones of the user responses UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14), with reference to FIG. 47 having: “Search Engine Results” as “Interleave”; “URL's per Search Engine” as “5”; “URL Details” as “Summary”; “Timeout (seconds) per Search Engine” as “3”; “Page” as “1”; “Searches per Group as “5”; and “Group” as I, II, and III, respectively, for FIGS. 48–50.

Now again, FIGS. 48–50 show the typical ones of the user responses UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14), resulting from the same and different ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), the same and different ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), but which also result from the typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) having 5 “URL's per Search Engine”, which instruct the client C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18) to return the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14) having 5 “URL's per Search Engine”, rather than 10 “URL's per Search Engine”, as in FIGS. 44A–46C, inclusive.

FIG. 51 shows another one of the typical completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) (230), at the user interface I_(n) (14), having the same ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), different ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52). The typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) have 18 “URL's per Search Engine”, which instruct the client C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18) to return the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14) having 18 “URL's per Search Engine”. The typical optional instructions VJ₁₁ . . . VJ_(nk) (52) also instruct the client C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18) to return the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14) at “Group” 2, having 4 “Searches per Group”, at “Page” 2 of the “Current Group”, with a 2 second “Timeout (seconds) per Search Engine”, and to return the results “Separately”.

FIGS. 52A–52F, inclusive, show a typical one of the user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14), with reference to FIG. 51, having information and/or services from the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) incorporated therein, and incorporated into Group II.

FIGS. 52A–52F, inclusive, show the typical one of the user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14), with reference to FIG. 51 having: “Search Engine Results” as “Separate”; “URL's per Search Engine” as “18”; “URL Details” as “Summary”; “Timeout (seconds) per Search Engine” as “1”; “Page” as “2”; “Searches per Group as “4”; and “Group” as “2”. Groups I and/or III may be selected from the typical one of the user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response forms IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14) of FIGS. 52A–52F, inclusive.

FIG. 53 shows another typical completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) (230), at the user interface I_(n) (14), having same and different ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), different ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), with other sorting/grouping criteria selected, i.e., with Search Engine Results as “Combined $[a–z]”.

The typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) “Combined $[a–z]” of FIG. 53 instruct the client C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18) to return the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14) having information and/or services in the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) to be sorted in ascending order first numerically, and then alphabetically, into the appropriate addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63). Items having prices will be sorted numerically by price, with lowest price first. The labelled individual information groups LL_(n11) . . . LL_(nzu) (86) in the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) are grouped and sorted in ascending order one with the other and labelled and/or identified and associated correspondingly with the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) from the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20). The “Combined $[a–z]” information and/or services may typically be incorporated into the appropriate addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) in accordance with the “Combined $[a–z]” optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), and communicated in the other typical user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n), as shown in FIGS. 54A–54H, inclusive. However, other sorting/grouping criteria may optionally be used, as will be discussed.

FIGS. 54A–54H, inclusive, also depict typical order boxes 402 of a typical order entry form OF_(n), which is communicated with the typical user response UR_(n), to enter quantities that the user U_(n) may elect to order, as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n), which the user U_(n) may use to enter an order.

FIG. 55 shows another typical completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) (230), at the user interface I_(n) (14), having same and different ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), different ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), with other sorting/grouping criteria selected, i.e., with Search Engine Results as “Combined $[z–a]”.

The typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) “Combined $[z–a]” of FIG. 55 instruct the client C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18) to return the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14) having information and/or services in the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) to be sorted in descending order first alphabetically, and then numerically, in the appropriate addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63). Items having prices will be sorted numerically by price, with highest price first. The labelled individual information groups LL_(n11) . . . LL_(nzu) (86) in the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) are grouped and sorted in descending order one with the other and labelled and/or identified and associated correspondingly with the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) from the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20). The “Combined $[z–a]” information and/or services may typically be incorporated into the appropriate addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) in accordance with the “Combined $[z–a]” optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), and communicated in the other typical user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n), as shown in FIGS. 56A–56H, inclusive.

FIG. 57 shows another typical completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) (230), at the user interface I_(n) (14), having same and different ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), different ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), with other sorting/grouping criteria selected, i.e., with Search Engine Results as “Separate $[a–z]”. The typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) of FIG. 57 have “Separate $[a–z]”, which instruct the client C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18) to return the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14) in separate groups, sorted in ascending order first numerically, and then alphabetically, in the appropriate addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), i.e., grouped by the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and communicated in the other typical user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface In, which may be communicated to the user U_(n), as shown in FIGS. 58A–58H, inclusive. Items having prices will be sorted numerically by price, with lowest price first within each of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) groups.

FIG. 59 shows another typical completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) (230), at the user interface I_(n) (14), having same and different ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), different ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), with other sorting/grouping criteria selected, i.e., with Search Engine Results as “Separate $[z–a]”. The typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) of FIG. 59 have “Separate $[z–a]”, which instruct the client C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18) to return the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14) in separate groups, sorted in descending order alphabetically, and then numerically, in the appropriate addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63), i.e., grouped by the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and communicated in the other typical user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n), as shown in FIGS. 60A–60H, inclusive. Items having prices will be sorted numerically by price, with highest price first within each of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) groups.

FIG. 61 depicts a typical preview form of an order OP_(n), resulting from submission of the quantities to be ordered in order boxes 402 of the order entry form OF_(n) of FIGS. 54A–54H, inclusive, of the typical user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n), and the order entry form OF_(n), which the user U_(n) may use to enter the order.

FIG. 62 depicts a typical order placement form OL_(n), having a typical preview form of the order OP_(n), resulting from submission of the quantities to be ordered in order boxes 402 of the order entry form OF_(n) of FIGS. 54A–54H, inclusive, of the typical user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), with the typical order information entered therein, or which the user U_(n) may enter through the typical preview form of the order OP_(n) of FIG. 61.

FIG. 63 depicts a typical order confirmation OC_(n), resulting from submission of the typical completed order placement form OL_(n) of FIG. 62.

The orders are also confirmed automatically by e-mail, with e-mailed confirmations being sent to the user U_(n) (12), i.e., the buyer, seller, order fulfillment organization, with the total order being totaled, portions of the order being segregated and separated one from the other, and subtotaled, each segregated and subtotaled portion being directed to individual suppliers.

FIG. 64 depicts another typical service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which the user U_(n) may communicate other typical user input UI_(n) thereinto, which is substantially the same as the typical service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n) of FIG. 53, except the typical service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n) of FIG. 64 is adapted to allow 10 different ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and 10 different ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) to be entered, whereas the typical service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n) of FIG. 53 is adapted to allow 9 different ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and 9 different ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) to be entered.

FIG. 65 depicts another typical service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which the user U_(n) may communicate other typical user input UI_(n) thereinto, which is substantially the same as the typical service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n) of FIG. 64, except the typical service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n) of FIG. 65 is adapted to allow the 10 different ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the 10 different ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) to be entered, aligned vertically one with the other in pairs, in two rows predominantly horizontally adjacent one with the other, whereas the typical service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n) of FIG. 64 is adapted to allow the 10 different ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the 10 different ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) to be entered, aligned horizontally one with the other in pairs adjacent one with the other in vertical rows.

FIG. 66 shows another typical completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) (230), at the user interface I_(n) (14), having same and different ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), different ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), with other sorting/grouping criteria selected, i.e., with Search Engine Results as “Combined $[a–z]”.

The typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) “Combined $[a–z]” of FIG. 66 instruct the client C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18) to return the typical user response UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) (39) at the user interface I_(n) (14) having information and/or services in the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) to be sorted in ascending order first numerically, and then alphabetically, in the appropriate addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63). Items having prices will be sorted numerically by price, with lowest price first. The labelled individual information groups LL_(n11) . . . LL_(nzu) (86) in the addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) are grouped and sorted in ascending order one with the other and labelled and/or identified and associated correspondingly with the responses R_(n1) . . . R_(nm) (32) from the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20). The “Combined $[a–z]” information and/or services may typically be incorporated into the appropriate addressable query information groups GI_(n1) . . . GI_(nz) (63) in accordance with the “Combined $[a–z]” optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), and communicated in the other typical user response UR_(n), as the typical service and/or information response form IS_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which may be communicated to the user U_(n), as shown in FIGS. 67A–67G, inclusive.

FIG. 68 shows yet another typical completed service and/or information entry request form IF_(n) (230), at the user interface I_(n) (14), having same and different ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), different ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), with other sorting/grouping criteria selected, i.e., with Search Engine Results as “Combined $[a–z]”.

FIG. 68 depicts another typical service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n) which the user U_(n) may communicate other typical user input UI_(n) thereinto, which is substantially the same as the typical service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n) of FIG. 65, except the typical service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n) of FIG. 68 is adapted to allow 12 different ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and 12 different ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) to be entered, whereas the typical service and/or information entry request form IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n) of FIG. 68 is adapted to allow 10 different ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and 10 different ones of the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) to be entered.

FIGS. 69 and 70 depict yet other typical service and/or information entry request forms IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which the user U_(n) may communicate other typical user input UI_(n) thereinto.

Each of the typical service and/or information entry request forms IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which the user U_(n) may communicate other typical user input UI_(n) thereinto, of FIGS. 53–70 may also have news stories, which may be updated intermittently on a substantially routine basis.

The typical ones of the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) shown in certain ones of the FIGS. 53–70 are typical examples of the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), a much larger variety of which is possible. Typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) in the typical ones of the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) shown in certain ones of the FIGS. 53–70 are typical examples for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the substantially infinite variety of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) that may be entered into the service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38), to derive the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14). Likewise, names and/or links and/or other information are incorporated into the typical ones of the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230) shown in certain ones of the FIGS. 53–70 for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the large variety of the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230) and the names and/or links and/or information that are possible, and that may be incorporated into the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14).

Any ones of the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), any values within the ranges allowable for the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and any values allowable for the typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) may be incorporated into the typical ones of service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) shown in certain ones of the FIGS. 53–70, which the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) enter to complete the typical ones of the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) shown in certain ones of the FIGS. 53–70.

Any values within the ranges allowable for “Search Engine Results”; “URL's per Search Engine”; “URL Details”; “Timeout (seconds) per Search Engine”; “Page”; “Searches per Group”; and “Group” may be incorporated into the typical ones of service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) shown in certain ones of the FIGS. 53–70, which the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) enter to complete the typical ones of the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) shown in certain ones of the FIGS. 53–70.

The users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12), for example, may enter: the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53); any values within the ranges allowable for the typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54); and any values allowable for the typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52), such as, for example, any allowable “Search Engine Results”; “URL's per Search Engine”; “URL Details”; “Timeout (seconds) per Search Engine”; “Page”; “Searches per Group”; and “Group” into the typical ones of service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14 shown in certain ones of the FIGS. 53–70, which the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12) enter to complete the typical ones of the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14). The typical ones of the user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37), as typical service and/or information response forms IS₁ . . . IS_(n) (39) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), may then be communicated to the corresponding ones of the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12), accordingly. Certain ones of the FIGS. 53–70 show typical ones of the user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37), as the typical service and/or information response forms IS₁ . . . IS_(n) (39) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), which may be communicated to the corresponding ones of the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12. The scope of the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention, the client-server multitasking process 99, and the multitasking process 104, however, is not limited to such values. Use of such values herein is meant only for illustrative purposes, in teaching certain aspects of the multitasking system 10 of the present invention, the client-server multitasking process 99, and the multitasking process 104 by example.

N. Additional Features and/or Other Considerations

The present invention is directed to a client-server multitasking system and process capable of information and/or service retrieval from the same and/or different ones of servers substantially simultaneously and on-the-fly, using the same and/or different ones of queries of the same and/or different ones of the servers, and sorting, grouping, and/or organizing responses therefrom substantially on-the-fly, and communicating service and/or information responses to the requesters and/or users substantially simultaneously and on-the-fly. The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of use on a variety of networks, such as global area networks, and in particular, the internet, metropolitan area networks, wide area networks, and local area networks, and are capable of searching search engines and/or other sites substantially simultaneously and on-the-fly.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of retrieving substantially multiple simultaneous services and/or information having the same and/or different criteria from the same and/or different servers, sorting, grouping, and/or organizing the responses from the servers and/or the clients into information and/or services responses, and communicating the service and/or information responses to the requesters and/or users substantially simultaneously. The requesters and/or the users may make substantially simultaneous service and/or information requests of servers and clients, using the same and/or different queries, and/or the same and/or different instructions. The same and/or different uniform resource locators, target resources, and/or paths may be used.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of making multiple substantially simultaneous same and/or different requests of the same and/or different servers, organizing responses from the servers into service and/or information responses, and communicating the service and/or information responses to the requesters and/or the users substantially simultaneously.

The client-server multitasking system and process are also capable of sorting, grouping, and/or organizing results from the servers, search engines, and/or sites, in accordance with instructions from the requesters, and/or the users, and/or instructions resident within the client-server multitasking system and/or process. The client-server multitasking system is capable of use in a variety of applications, and is capable of information comparison and/or trend analysis of information from the same and/or different sources substantially simultaneously. The client-server multitasking system and process are also capable of building a client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database from responses returned from the servers, search engines, and/or sites being queried and/or searched, and/or having requests made thereof, are capable of being searched and/or queried, querying sites referenced in the client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database, and updating information and/or services stored therein.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of information and/or service retrieval from the same and/or different ones of servers substantially simultaneously and on-the-fly, using the same and/or different ones of queries, and sorting, grouping, and/or organizing responses therefrom substantially on-the-fly.

A requester and/or user is capable of making substantially multiple simultaneous same and/or different requests of the same and/or different servers. The client server-multitasking system and process are capable of organizing responses from the servers into service and/or information responses, and communicating the service and/or information responses to the requesters and/or the users substantially simultaneously, and on-the-fly.

The requesters and/or users are capable of making substantially simultaneous service and/or information requests of the same and/or different ones of servers and/or clients, using the same and/or different queries, and/or the same and/or different instructions. The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of retrieving substantially multiple simultaneous services and/or information having the same and/or different criteria from the same and/or different servers, sorting, grouping, and/or organizing the responses from the servers and/or the clients into information and/or services responses, and communicating the service and/or information responses to the requesters and/or the users substantially simultaneously. The same and/or different ones of uniform resource locators, target resources, and/or paths may be used.

The requesters and/or users are capable of making multiple simultaneous searches. The searches may have at least one or a plurality of same or different queries of the same and/or different servers and/or clients. The responses from the servers and/or the clients may be of being organized into the service and/or information response in a variety of formats. The responses may be sorted within the service and/or information response, such as, for example, by category, query, group, page, order of importance, ascending and/or descending order, alphabetically and/or numerically, or other characteristics, as determined by the requester, and/or the user, and/or the client-server multitasking system, and/or the responses may be combined within the service and/or information response, such as, for example, interleaving the responses one with the other, such as, for example, by order of relevance or other parameters. The responses may also be capable of being grouped by search criteria, server, order of importance, or by numerical factors such as value, price, or other numerical quantifier. The responses may be presentable, for example, in ascending or descending order in interleaved format, such as top ones, twos, threes, and so on, or presentable separately to the requestor and/or the user. The order may be order of importance or relevance related, or, for example, numerically valued, such as price or stock market value.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of information and/or service retrieval from the same and/or different ones of the servers substantially simultaneously and on-the-fly, using the same and/or different ones of the queries, and sorting, grouping, and/or organizing responses therefrom substantially on-the-fly.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of substantially multiple simultaneous searching, using the same and/or different ones of queries of the same and/or different ones of the clients and/or servers, which may be search engines, and/or sites, and/or servers, and/or locations on the network, and additionally and/or alternatively building a client-server multitasking search engine and/or database. The client-server multitasking search engine and/or database are capable of storing the information and/or services retrieved from the search engines, and/or sites, and/or servers, and/or locations being queried on the network, and building the client-server search engine and/or database. The client-server multitasking search engine is also capable of being queried either directly and/or in combination with the substantially simultaneous searching, using the same and/or different queries of the same and/or different search engines, sites, servers, and/or databases. The client-server multitasking search engine and/or database are also capable of updating information and/or services stored therein by querying sites, servers, search engines, and/or databases containing information and/or services referenced in the client-server multitasking search engine and/or database.

The client-server multitasking system and process are also capable of use on a variety of networks, such as global area networks, and in particular, the internet, metropolitan area networks, wide area networks, and local area networks.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of substantially simultaneous searching of the same and/or different ones of search engines and/or sites on the network substantially on-the-fly, with the same and/or different ones of the queries, and sorting, grouping, and/or organizing responses therefrom substantially on-the-fly.

The client-server multitasking system and process are also capable of sorting, grouping, and/or organizing results from the servers, search engines, and/or sites, in accordance with instructions from the requesters and/or the users, and/or instructions resident within the client-server multitasking system and/or process. The client-server multitasking system and process are also capable of drilling down and/or up to different levels within the search engines, sites, and/or servers being queried.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of providing manual and/or timed updates. Such timed updates allow for motion related presentation to the requestor and/or the user.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of incorporating information and/or services into a variety of user interfaces at different locations in the user interfaces, grouping, and/or organizing the information and/or services, and optionally eliminating duplicate information and/or services.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of incorporating links, graphics, video, text, and audio, and/or combinations thereof, and selective advertising, according to selectable search, query, sorting, and/or grouping criteria, and/or combinations thereof into the information and/or services to be delivered to the user interfaces. The requestor and/or the user may place orders, such as purchases, and/or other types of orders, payments, confirmations thereof, and/or combinations thereof, either directly and/or through servers and/or sites on the network.

The client-server multitasking system is capable of use in a variety of applications, and is capable of information comparison and/or trend analysis of information from the same and/or different sources substantially simultaneously. The client-server multitasking system is capable of, for example, determining best query results, with respect to a plurality of search engine results; purchasing and/or price comparisons, viewing and/or reviewing prices/values and trends for different sites, determining lowest costs and lowest cost analyses for wholesale and retail purposes; product availability, e.g., airline tickets, pricing, and ticket availability, from different airlines to the same and/or different locations; purchasing of commodities and/or stocks form the same and/or different sites with updates every few seconds and/or minutes; obtaining prices and/or values in different stock markets substantially simultaneously; and searching for jobs on the same and/or different job sites, using the same and/or different job criteria, for example, on a daily basis, the job sites having changing job availability; and/or a combination thereof, all substantially simultaneously. The client-server multitasking system is capable of presenting information and/or services for review and/or updating from the same and/or different ones of sites, servers, and/or applications substantially simultaneously, and trend analysis thereof, using a variety of sorting, grouping and/or organizing criteria, according to the needs of the requester, and/or the user, and/or resident within the client-server multitasking system.

The client server-multitasking system and process are capable of service and/or information retrieval from at least one server, organization, communication, and presentation of such services and/or information to at least one requestor and/or user, and/or optional storage, and/or retrieval of such services and/or information from the optional storage. The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of building a client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database from responses returned from the servers, search engines, and/or sites being queried and/or searched, and/or having requests made thereof. The client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database having stored information and/or services therein are also searchable, are capable of full text searches thereof, and are searchable by the servers and/or the clients on the network, either separately and/or in combination with the substantially simultaneous multiple same and/or different searches and/or queries of the same and/or different servers on the network. Information in the client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database are also searchable and/or retrievable, and are capable of being incorporated in the service and/or information responses delivered to the user interfaces, according to search criteria, selectively and/or automatically, by the requestor and/or the user. The client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database are capable of spidering, and/or roboting, and/or querying sites, services and/or information to be stored therein and/or stored in the client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database, and updating the services and/or information to be stored and/or stored in the client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database.

The client-server multitasking system and process, then, are capable of information and/or service retrieval from the same and/or different ones of servers substantially simultaneously and on-the-fly, using the same and/or different ones of queries of the same and/or different ones of the servers, and sorting, grouping, and/or organizing responses therefrom substantially on-the-fly, and communicating service and/or information responses to the requesters and/or users substantially simultaneously and on-the-fly. The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of use on a variety of networks, such as global area networks, and in particular, the internet, metropolitan area networks, wide area networks, and local area networks, and are capable of searching search engines and/or other sites substantially simultaneously and on-the-fly. The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of sorting, grouping, and/or organizing results from the servers, search engines, and/or sites, in accordance with instructions from the requesters, and/or users, and/or instructions resident within the client-server multitasking system and/or process. The client-server multitasking system is capable of use in a variety of applications, and is capable of information comparison and/or trend analysis of information from the same and/or different sources substantially simultaneously. The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of building a client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database from responses returned from the servers, search engines, and/or sites being queried and/or searched, and/or having requests made thereof, are capable of being searched and/or queried, querying sites referenced in the client-server multitasking system search engine and/or database, and updating information and/or services stored therein.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of retrieving, parsing, processing, formatting, organizing, grouping, sorting, and consolidating services and/or information from the same and/or different ones of the servers and/or clients having the same and/or different structures, formats, organizations, groupings, and/or data structures, and incorporating the parsed, processed, formatted, organized, grouped, sorted, and consolidated services and/or information into user responses for delivery to and use by the requesters and/or users.

The client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention, the client-server multitasking process 99, and the multitasking process 104, the server PS (18) and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), then, are capable of retrieving, parsing, processing, formatting, organizing, grouping, sorting, and consolidating services and/or information from the same and/or different ones of the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), and/or the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), having the same and/or different structures, formats, organizations, groupings, and/or data structures, and incorporating the parsed, processed, formatted, organized, grouped, sorted, and consolidated services and/or information into the user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37) for delivery to the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) and use by the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12).

The client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention, the client-server multitasking process 99, and the multitasking process 104, which in itself is a process, the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), and/or the server PS (18), and/or the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), and/or the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22) may be constructed of hardware, firmware, software, machines, and/or operating systems, and/or combinations thereof, and/or other suitable means, and/or other components and/or systems, and/or combinations thereof. Such hardware, firmware, software, machines, and/or operating systems, and/or combinations thereof, other components and/or systems, and/or other suitable means, and/or combinations thereof may have therein and/or be resident therein, but are not limited to computer components and/or systems, television and/or telecommunications components and/or systems, merger of television and computer systems, and/or merger of television and/or computer and/or telecommunications systems, networks, simulators, interactive technologies and/or systems, cybernetics and/or cybernetic systems, and/or combinations thereof.

The clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), the server PS (18), the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), and/or the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22) may be search engines, and/or sites, and/or servers, and/or clients, and/or URL's, and/or databases, and/or locations on the network, and/or other suitable components and/or systems, and/or other suitable means, and/or combinations thereof, which may be capable of communicating on the network 24. The scope of the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention, the client-server multitasking process 99, and the multitasking process 104, however, is not limited to search engines, and/or sites, and/or servers, and/or clients, and/or URL's, and/or databases, and/or locations on the network, and/or other suitable components and/or systems, and/or other suitable means, and/or combinations thereof, which may be capable of communicating on the network 24, as it is recognized that other components, systems, technologies, and/or operating systems exist and/or emerge that may make use of the benefits of the present invention, and are either on the horizon and/or are recognized to be forthcoming.

The client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention, the client-server multitasking process 99, and the multitasking process 104, which in itself is a process, the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), and/or the server PS (18), and/or the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), and/or the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22), may then be hardware, firmware, software, and/or machines, and/or operating systems, and/or other suitable means, and/or combinations thereof, and may have and/or be resident within general purpose computers, special purpose computers, televisions, computer-television combinations, telecommunications systems, networks, mergers of computer and/or television technology and/or telecommunications technology and/or network technology, media, film, entertainment, interactive technologies and/or systems, cybernetics and/or cybernetic systems and/or technology, components, and/or systems, and/or other suitable means, and/or combinations thereof, and may be integrated one with the other and/or with other components and/or systems of one another, and may each be substantially the same and/or different one from the other.

The client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention, the client-server multitasking process 99, and the multitasking process 104, which in itself is a process, the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), and/or the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), and/or the server PS (18), and/or the servers S₁ . . . S_(z) (20), and/or the optional servers SO₁ . . . SO_(p) (22) may each have the same and/or different hardware, firmware, software, and/or ones of operating systems, and/or other suitable means, and/or combinations thereof. The optional databases 41 and/or 42 may also be hardware, firmware, software, and/or machine based, and/or other suitable means, and/or a combinations thereof, have the same and/or different ones of operating systems and/or combinations thereof, and may have memory components associated therewith.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of use on a variety of networks, such as global area networks, and in particular, the internet, metropolitan area networks, wide area networks, and local area networks. Such networks may be Earth based, satellite based, and/or space based, and/or other suitable means, and/or combinations thereof.

The scope of the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention, the client-server multitasking process 99, and the multitasking process 104, however, is not limited to such components, systems, technologies, operating systems and/or networks, as other components, systems, technologies, and/or operating systems exist and/or emerge that may make use of the benefits of the present invention, and are either on the horizon and/or are recognized to be forthcoming.

Determination as to whether the server PS (18) performs the multitasking process 104, and/or whether particular ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) perform the multitasking process 104, may optionally be made at the particular ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16) and/or the server PS (18). Such determination may optionally be made by the users U₁ . . . U_(n) (12), and/or be based upon processing power, capabilities, and/or configurations of the particular ones of the clients C₁ . . . C_(n) (16), the server PS (18), and the network 24 considerations (traffic, load, and/or other considerations).

The client-server multitasking search engine and/or database are capable of updating information and/or services stored therein by querying sites, servers, search engines, and/or databases containing information and/or services referenced in the client-server multitasking search engine and/or database.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of use on a variety of networks, such as global area networks, and in particular, the internet, metropolitan area networks, wide area networks, and local area networks, and is capable of searching search engines and/or other sites substantially simultaneously and on-the-fly.

The client-server multitasking system and process are capable of substantially simultaneous searching of the same and/or different ones of search engines and/or sites on the network substantially on-the-fly, with the same and/or different ones of the queries, and sorting, grouping, and/or organizing responses therefrom substantially on-the-fly.

The client-server multitasking system and process are also capable of sorting, grouping, and/or organizing results from the servers, search engines, and/or sites, in accordance with instructions from the requesters, and/or instructions resident within the client-server multitasking system and/or process. The client-server multitasking system and process are also capable of drilling down and/or up to different levels within the search engines, sites, and/or servers being queried.

Now again, the typical ones of the service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) shown in FIGS. 1–70 are typical examples of the service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), a much larger variety of which is possible. Names and/or links and/or other information are incorporated in the typical ones of the service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38) shown in FIGS. 1–70 for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the large variety of the service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38) and the names and/or links and/or information that are possible, and that may be incorporated into the service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14).

Now again, The typical ones of the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) are typical examples of the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), a much larger variety of which is possible. Typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) in the typical ones of the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) shown in FIGS. 1–70 are typical examples for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the substantially infinite variety of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) that may be entered into the service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38), to derive the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14). Likewise, names and/or links and/or other information are incorporated in the typical ones of the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230) for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the large variety of the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230) and the names and/or links and/or information that are possible, and that may be incorporated into the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14).

Now again, the typical ones of the user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37), as typical service and/or information response forms IS₁ . . . IS_(n) (39) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) are typical examples of the user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37), as typical service and/or information response forms IS₁ . . . IS_(n) (39) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), a much larger variety of which is possible. Certain ones of FIGS. 1–70 illustrate typical examples of typical ones of the user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37), as typical service and/or information response forms IS₁ . . . IS_(n) (39) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) to the typical queries typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), the typical ones of the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the typical optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) having been entered in the typical ones of the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14).

The typical examples of the typical ones of the user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37), as typical service and/or information response forms IS₁ . . . IS_(n) (39) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) are for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the substantially infinite variety of the user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37), as the service and/or information response forms IS₁ . . . IS_(n) (39) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53), the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), and the optional instructions VJ_(n1) . . . VJ_(nk) (52) that may be entered into the service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38), to derive the to the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230), and which result in the user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37), as the service and/or information response forms IS₁ . . . IS_(n) (39) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14). Likewise, names and/or links and/or other information incorporated in the typical ones of the user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37), as the service and/or information response forms IS₁ . . . IS_(n) (39) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14) are shown for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the large variety of the user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37), as the service and/or information response forms IS₁ . . . IS_(n) (39) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), and the names and/or links and/or information that are possible, and that may be incorporated into the user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37), as the service and/or information response forms IS₁ . . . IS_(n) (39) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14).

The server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), such as WebCrawler®, Altavista®, Lycos®, Infoseek®, Excite®, Yahoo®, LookSmart®, HotBot®, Dejanews®, Amazon®, Borders®, BamesandNoble®, Google®, and/or others that may have been used herein are for illustrative purposes, to illustrate typical ones of the service and/or information entry request forms IE₁ . . . IE_(n) (38) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), typical ones of the completed service and/or information entry request forms IF₁ . . . IF_(n) (230) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), and/or typical ones of the user responses UR₁ . . . UR_(n) (37), as the service and/or information response forms IS₁ . . . IS_(n) (39) at the user interfaces I₁ . . . I_(n) (14), and other examples used herein, are used merely to illustrate typical examples of the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) and results therefrom that may be possible. The examples shown in FIGS. 1–70, and other examples used herein, are examples of the substantially infinite variety of the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) that may be used with the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention and the results that may be obtained therefrom. The typical server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54), such as WebCrawler®, Altavista®, Lycos®, Infoseek®, Excite®, Yahoo®, LookSmart®, HotBot®, Dejanews®, Amazon®, Borders®, BamesandNoble®, Google®, and/or others that may have been used herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention.

It should also be obvious that the typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) used in the examples shown in FIGS. 1–70 and other examples used herein are for illustrative purposes and are merely typical examples of the substantially infinite variety of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) that may be used with the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention and the results that may be obtained therefrom, and are not intended to limit the substantially infinite variety of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) that may be used with the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention and the results that may be obtained therefrom. The typical queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) used in the examples shown in FIGS. 1–70 and other examples used herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention.

The typical labelled individual information groups LL_(n11) . . . LL_(nzu) (86), the typical optional links LD_(nm1) . . . LD_(nmr) (82), and/or the typical optional descriptions DD_(nm1) . . . DD_(nmr) (83), and/or the typical optional prices/values PD_(nm1) . . . PD_(nmr) (84), and/or the typical optional images ID_(nm1) . . . ID_(nmr) (85), and/or advertisements and/or advertisement links, and/or URL's, and/or locations, and/or other items and/or objects shown in FIGS. 1–70 and other examples used herein are typical examples for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention. A substantially infinite variety of the labelled individual information groups LL_(n11) . . . LL_(nzu) (86), the optional links LD_(nm1) . . . LD_(nmr) (82), and/or the optional descriptions DD_(nm1) . . . DD_(nmr) (83), and/or the optional prices/values PD_(nm1) . . . PD_(nmr) (84), and/or the optional images ID_(nm1) . . . ID_(nmr) (85), and/or advertisements and/or advertisement links, and/or URL's, and/or locations, and/or other items and/or objects may result from the substantially infinite varieties and combinations of the queries QQ_(n1) . . . QQ_(nm) (53) and the substantially infinite varieties and combinations of the server addresses AQ_(n1) . . . AQ_(nm) (54) of the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention, the client-server multitasking process 99, and the multitasking process 104, which in itself is a process.

Likewise, the typical grouping/sorting criteria shown herein in the examples is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention. It is possible to sort the responses within the service and/or information response, such as, for example, by category, query, group, page, order of importance, ascending and/or descending order, alphabetically and/or numerically, or other characteristics, as determined by the requester, and/or the user, and/or the client-server multitasking system, or to combine the responses within the service and/or information response, such as, for example, interleaving the responses one with the other, such as, for example, by order of relevance or other parameters. The responses then are capable of being grouped by search criteria, server, order of importance, or by numerical factors such as value, price, or other numerical quantifier. The responses may be presentable, for example, in ascending or descending order in interleaved format, such as top ones, twos, threes, and so on, or presentable separately to the requestor and/or the user. The order may be order of importance or relevance related, or, for example, numerically valued, such as price or stock market value. A substantially infinite variety of results may be generated from the substantially infinite variety of grouping/sorting criteria possible with the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention.

A substantially infinite variety of URL's, links, locations, sites, servers, and/or clients, other items and/or objects may be used with the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention, the client-server multitasking process 99, and the multitasking process 104, which in itself is a process. Examples of URL's, links, locations, sites, servers, and/or clients, other items and/or objects shown in FIGS. 1–70 are typical examples of URL's, links, locations, sites, servers, and/or clients, other items and/or objects that may be of used with the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention, the client-server multitasking process 99, and the multitasking process 104, and are used herein for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention, the client-server multitasking process 99, and/or the multitasking process 104.

A substantially infinite variety of advertisements and/or links may be used with the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention. The advertisements and/or links to such sites as Netscape® and/or “ABC News”®, Disney®, Discovery®, Warner®, ABC®, Universal®, CBS®, NBC®, “TV Guide”®, NYtimes®, ESPN®, WSjournal®, CNN®, and/or other sites used in the examples shown in FIGS. 1–70 and other examples used herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention.

It should also be obvious that advertisements and/or links to such sites as Netscape® and/or “ABC News”®, and/or other sites that may be used herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the client-server multitasking system 10 of the present invention.

Each of the typical service and/or information entry request forms IE_(n) at the user interface I_(n), which the user U_(n) may communicate other typical user input UI_(n) thereinto, may also have news stories, which may be updated intermittently on a substantially routine basis.

The client-server multitasking system and process are also capable of performing as a multiple query search engine, which performs multiple queries of multiple sites, and performing as a single point of sale for purchasing multiple products from multiple sources.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. 

1. A process for metasearching on a distributed network activated by a request executed by a user on a client device and sent to a metasearch engine, the request comprising m request groups, the m request groups comprising a plurality of search queries and specifying to which of a plurality of search engines each of the plurality of search queries is to be sent to, each of the plurality of search queries comprising a keyword phrase, each of the keyword phrases comprising at least one keyword, each of the m request groups comprising at least one search query of the plurality of search queries and specifying to which of the plurality of search engines that the at least one search query is to be sent to, at least one of the m request groups comprising at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries and specifying to which of the plurality of search engines that the at least two search queries are to be sent to and comprising at least two of the keyword phrases of the at least two search queries different from each other, wherein m is greater or equal to one, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving, at the metasearch engine, the request from the client device, wherein the request specifies one of the m request groups comprising the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two of the keyword phrases different from each other and specifying to which of the plurality of search engines that the at least two search queries specified in the specified one of the m request groups are to be sent to; (b) sending, by the metasearch engine, the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two of the keyword phrases different from each other to those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified one of the m request groups; (c) receiving, at the metasearch engine, search results from those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified one of the m request groups in response to the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two of the keyword phrases different from each other, each as specified in the specified one of the m request groups; (d) incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases specified in the specified one of the m request groups, wherein: each different one of the at least two different display lists comprises the received search results in response to the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising a different one of the at least two keyword phrases specified in the specified one of the m request groups, each same one of the at least two different display lists comprises the received search results therein in response to the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising a same one of the at least two keyword phrases specified in the specified one of the m request groups; (e) incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the at least two different display lists of received search results into a response for communicating to the client device; (f) communicating, by the metasearch engine, the response from the metasearch engine to the client device.
 2. The process of claim 1, wherein at least one of the received search results comprises information about at least one item that may be ordered: step (d) further comprises incorporating, by the metasearch engine, means for inputting at least one quantity of the at least one item that may be ordered into each of the at least two different display lists that comprise the at least one of the received search results comprising the information about the at least one item that may be ordered, the at least one quantity of the at least one item to be ordered to be input on the client device; step (e) further comprises incorporating, by the metasearch engine, into the response for communicating to the client device means for executing on the client device another request to be activated by the user for ordering the at least one quantity of the at least one item that may be ordered.
 3. The process of claim 2, further comprising the steps of: (g) inputting on the client device, by the user, the at least one quantity of the at least one item to be ordered; (h) activating the other request, by executing on the client device, by the user, the other request for the metasearch engine to order the at least one quantity of the at least one item; (i) receiving, at the metasearch engine, the other request from the client device for the metasearch engine to order the at least one quantity of the at least one item; (j) processing, by the metasearch engine, an order for the at least one quantity of the at least one item.
 4. The process of claim 3, prior to activating the other request, by executing on the client device, by the user, the other request for the metasearch engine to order the at least one quantity of the at least one item, further comprising the steps of: incorporating, by the metasearch engine, into another response for communicating to the client device means for executing on the client device yet another request to be activated by the user for previewing the order; activating the yet other request, by executing on the client device, by the user, the yet other request for the metasearch engine to communicate, by the metasearch engine, to the client device a preview of the order; receiving, at the metasearch engine, the yet other request from the client device for the metasearch engine to communicate to the client device the preview of the order; communicating, by the metasearch engine, to the client device the preview of the order.
 5. The process of claim 3, prior to activating the other request, by executing on the client device, by the user, the other request for the metasearch engine to order the at least one quantity of the at least one item, further comprising the steps of: incorporating, by the metasearch engine, into yet another response for communicating to the client device means for executing on the client device yet another additional request to be activated by the user for updating the order; updating at the client device, by the user, the order; activating the yet other additional request, by executing on the client device, by the user, the yet other request for the metasearch engine to communicate, by the metasearch engine, to the client device the updated order; receiving, at the metasearch engine, the yet other additional request from the client device for the metasearch engine to communicate to the client device the updated order; communicating, by the metasearch engine, to the client device the updated order.
 6. The process of claim 3, further comprising the step of: (k) confirming, by the metasearch engine, the order.
 7. The process of claim 3, further comprising the step of: (k) confirming, by the metasearch engine, the order by e-mail.
 8. The process of claim 3, further comprising the step of: (k) placing, by the metasearch engine, the order with at least one server device on the distributed network and/or at least one third party for the at least one quantity of the at least one item.
 9. The process of claim 3, further comprising the step of: (k) placing, by the metasearch engine, the order with at least one server device on the distributed network and/or at least one third party for the at least one quantity of the at least one item by e-mail.
 10. The process of claim 3, wherein the step of activating the other request, by executing on the client device, by the user, the other request for the metasearch engine to order the at least one quantity of the at least one item comprises activating the other request, by executing on the client device, by the user, the other request for the metasearch engine to purchase the at least one quantity of the at least one item.
 11. The process of claim 2, wherein the incorporating by the metasearch engine, the means for inputting the at least one quantity of the at least one item that may be ordered into the each of the at least two different display lists that comprise the at least one of the received search results comprising the information about the at least one item that may be ordered, of step (d) comprises: appending, by the metasearch engine, at least one input element for inputting the at least one quantity of the at least one item that may be ordered to the at least one of the received search results comprising the information about the at least one item that may be ordered and incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the appended at least one input element into the each of the at least two different display lists that comprise the at least one of the received search results comprising the information about the at least one item that may be ordered.
 12. The process of claim 11, wherein the at least one input element comprises at least one text entry field for inputting the at least one quantity of the at least one item that may be ordered.
 13. The process of claim 2, wherein the at least one item that may be ordered comprises at least two items that may be ordered and the incorporating, by the metasearch engine, of the received search results into the at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases comprises incorporating the at least two items that may be ordered into any one of the at least two different display lists, step (d) further comprises: sorting, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the any one of the at least two different display lists according to price of the at least two items that may be ordered.
 14. The process of claim 13, wherein the request executed by the user on the client device comprises a sorting order specified by the user that specifies the order of each of the search results to be returned in each of the at least two different display lists, wherein the sorting order is selected from the group consisting of ascending price and descending price, step (d) further comprises: sorting, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the any one of the at least two different display lists into the sorting order specified in the request executed by the user according to the price of the at least two items that may be ordered.
 15. The process of claim 2, wherein step (e) further comprises: incorporating, by the metasearch engine, into the response for communicating to the client device means for inputting on the client device, by the user, payment and/or shipping information.
 16. The process of claim 1, wherein the request executed by the user on the client device comprises a sorting order specified by the user that specifies the order of each of the search results to be returned in each of the at least two different display lists, step (d) further comprises: sorting, by the metasearch engine, the received search results in each of the at least two different display lists into the sorting order specified in the request executed by the user.
 17. The process of claim 16, wherein the sorting order specified by the user on the client device comprises sorting the search results alphanumerically, the sorting comprises: sorting, by the metasearch engine, the search results within each of the at least two different display lists into alphanumeric order.
 18. The process of claim 17, wherein the alphanumeric order is from the group consisting of ascending and descending.
 19. The process of claim 16, wherein the sorting order specified by the user on the client device comprises interleaving the search results, the sorting comprises: sorting, by the metasearch engine, by interleaving the search results within each of the at least two different display lists by rank of the search results as received from each of the plurality of search engines and alternating each of the search results from each of the plurality of search engines from which the search results were received with each other.
 20. The process of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises: identifying, by the metasearch engine, the at least two different display lists with information that identifies which of the at least two different keyword phrases each of the at least two different display lists corresponds to.
 21. The process of claim 20, wherein step (d) further comprises: identifying, by the metasearch engine, each of the received search results with information that identifies which of the plurality of search engines the received search results were received from.
 22. The process of claim 21, wherein step (d) further comprises: identifying, by the metasearch engine, the rank of each of the received search results within each of the plurality of search engines that the received search results were received from.
 23. The process of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises: eliminating, by the metasearch engine, any duplicates of the received search results in any particular one of the at least two different display lists comprising the received search results corresponding to the same one of the at least two keyword phrases.
 24. The process of claim 1, wherein the search results comprise information about at least one item that may be ordered, step (e) further comprises: incorporating, by the metasearch engine, means for inputting at least one request for ordering the at least one item into the response to be communicated, by the metasearch engine, to the client device.
 25. The process of claim 1, wherein: at least one of the at least two different display lists comprises the received search results therein in response to at least two of the plurality of search queries comprising a same one of the at least two keyword phrases.
 26. The process of claim 1, wherein m is greater than one and another request is executed by the user on the client device specifying another one of the m request groups comprising the at least one search query of the plurality of search queries and specifying to which of the plurality of search engines that the at least one search query is to be sent to, further comprising the steps of: (g) receiving, at the metasearch engine, the other request from the client device, (h) sending, by the metasearch engine, the at least one search query of the plurality of search queries to those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified other one of the m request groups; (i) receiving, at the metasearch engine, other search results from those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified other one of the m request groups in response to the at least one query of the plurality of search queries specified in the specified other one of the m request groups; (j) incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the other received search results into at least one other display list corresponding to the at least one keyword phrase specified in the specified other one of the m request groups; (k) incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the at least one other display list of other received search results into another response for communicating to the client device; (l) communicating, by the metasearch engine, the other response from the metasearch engine to the client device.
 27. The process of claim 1, wherein prior to sending, by the metasearch engine, the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two keyword phrases to the plurality of search engines, step (b) further comprises: opening connections, by the metasearch engine, substantially simultaneously with those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified one of the m request groups.
 28. The process of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises: opening connections, by the metasearch engine, substantially simultaneously with those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified one of the m request groups; and sending, by the metasearch engine, the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two keyword phrases substantially simultaneously to those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified one of the m request groups.
 29. The process of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises: sending, by the metasearch engine, the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two keyword phrases substantially simultaneously to those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified one of the m request groups.
 30. A system for metasearching on a distributed network activated by a request executed by a user on a client device and sent to a metasearch engine, the request comprising m request groups, the m request groups comprising a plurality of search queries and specifying to which of a plurality of search engines each of the plurality of search queries is to be sent to, each of the plurality of search queries comprising a keyword phrase, each of the keyword phrases comprising at least one keyword, each of the m request groups comprising at least one search query of the plurality of search queries and specifying to which of the plurality of search engines that the at least one search query is to be sent to, at least one of the m request groups comprising at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries and specifying to which of the plurality of search engines that the at least two search queries are to be sent to and comprising at least two of the keyword phrases of the at least two search queries different from each other, wherein m is greater or equal to one, comprising: (a) means for receiving, at the metasearch engine, the request from the client device, wherein the request specifies one of the m request groups comprising the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two of the keyword phrases different from each other and specifying to which of the plurality of search engines that the at least two search queries specified in the specified one of the m request groups are to be sent to; (b) means for sending, by the metasearch engine, the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two of the keyword phrases different from each other to those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified one of the m request groups; (c) means for receiving, at the metasearch engine, search results from those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified one of the m request groups in response to the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two of the keyword phrases different from each other, each as specified in the specified one of the m request groups; (d) means for incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases specified in the specified one of the m request groups, wherein: each different one of the at least two different display lists comprises the received search results in response to the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising a different one of the at least two keyword phrases specified in the specified one of the m request groups, each same one of the at least two different display lists comprises the received search results therein in response to the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising a same one of the at least two keyword phrases specified in the specified one of the m request groups; (e) means for incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the at least two different display lists of received search results into a response for communicating to the client device; (f) means for communicating, by the metasearch engine, the response from the metasearch engine to the client device.
 31. The system of claim 30, wherein at least one of the received search results comprises information about at least one item that may be ordered: further comprising at (d) means for incorporating by the metasearch engine means for inputting at least one quantity of the at least one item that may be ordered into each of the at least two different display lists that comprise the at least one of the received search results comprising the information about the at least one item that may be ordered, the at least one quantity of the at least one item to be ordered to be input on the client device; further comprising, at (e), means for incorporating, by the metasearch engine, into the response for communicating to the client device means for executing on the client device another request to be activated by the user for ordering the at least one quantity of the at least one item that may be ordered.
 32. The system of claim 31, further comprising: (g) means for inputting on the client device, by the user, the at least one quantity of the at least one item to be ordered; (h) means for activating the other request, by executing on the client device, by the user, the other request for the metasearch engine to order the at least one quantity of the at least one item; (i) means for receiving, at the metasearch engine, the other request from the client device for the metasearch engine to order the at least one quantity of the at least one item; (j) means for processing, by the metasearch engine, an order for the at least one quantity of the at least one item.
 33. The system of claim 32, further comprising: (k) means for placing, by the metasearch engine, the order with at least one server device on the distributed network and/or at least one third party for the at least one quantity of the at least one item.
 34. The system of claim 31, wherein the means for incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the means for inputting the at least one quantity of the at least one item that may be ordered into the each of the at least two different display lists that comprise the at least one of the received search results comprising the information about the at least one item that may be ordered, of (d) comprises: means for appending, by the metasearch engine, at least one input element for inputting the at least one quantity of the at least one item that may be ordered to the at least one of the received search results comprising the information about the at least one item that may be ordered and means for incorporating by the metasearch engine the appended at least one input element into the each of the at least two different display lists that comprise the at least one of the received search results comprising the information about the at least one item that may be ordered.
 35. The system of claim 31, wherein the at least one item that may be ordered comprises at least two items that may be ordered and the means for incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases comprises means for incorporating the at least two items that may be ordered into any one of the at least two different display lists, (d) further comprises: means for sorting, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the any one of the at least two different display lists according to price of the at least two items that may be ordered.
 36. The system of claim 30, wherein the means for incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases further comprises: means for identifying, by the metasearch engine, the at least two different display lists with information that identifies which of the at least two different keyword phrases each of the at least two different display lists corresponds to.
 37. The system of claim 36, wherein the means for incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases further comprises: means for identifying, by the metasearch engine, each of the received search results with information that identifies which of the plurality of search engines the received search results were received from.
 38. The system of claim 37, wherein the means for incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases further comprises: means for identifying, by the metasearch engine, the rank of each of the received search results within each of the plurality of search engines that the received search results were received from.
 39. The system of claim 30, wherein the request executed by the user on the client device comprises a sorting order specified by the user that specifies the order of each of the search results to be returned in each of the at least two different display lists, the means for incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases further comprises: means for sorting, by the metasearch engine, the received search results in each of the at least two different display lists into the sorting order specified in the request executed by the user.
 40. The system of claim 30, wherein: at least one of the at least two different display lists comprises the received search results therein in response to at least two of the plurality of search queries comprising a same one of the at least two keyword phrases.
 41. The system of claim 30, wherein prior to the means for sending, by the metasearch engine, the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two keyword phrases to the plurality of search engines, the system further comprises: means for opening connections, by the metasearch engine, substantially simultaneously with those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified one of the m request groups.
 42. The system of claim 30, wherein the means for sending, by the metasearch engine, the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two keyword phrases to the plurality of search engines, each as specified in the request executed by the user further comprises: means for sending, by the metasearch engine, the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two keyword phrases substantially simultaneously to those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified one of the m request groups.
 43. A computer readable storage medium containing computer executable instructions for metasearching on a distributed network activated by a request executed by a user on a client device and sent to a metasearch engine, the request comprising m request groups, the m request groups comprising a plurality of search queries and specifying to which of a plurality of search engines each of the plurality of search queries is to be sent to, each of the plurality of search queries comprising a keyword phrase, each of the keyword phrases comprising at least one keyword, each of the m request groups comprising at least one search query of the plurality of search queries and specifying to which of the plurality of search engines that the at least one search query is to be sent to, at least one of the m request groups comprising at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries and specifying to which of the plurality of search engines that the at least two search queries are to be sent to and comprising at least two of the keyword phrases of the at least two search queries different from each other, wherein m is greater or equal to one, causing one or more computers to: (a) receive, at the metasearch engine, the request from the client device, wherein the request specifies one of the m request groups comprising the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two of the keyword phrases different from each other and specifying to which of the plurality of search engines that the at least two search queries specified in the specified one of the m request groups are to be sent to; (b) send, by the metasearch engine, the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two of the keyword phrases different from each other to those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified one of the m request groups; (c) receive, at the metasearch engine, search results from those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified one of the m request groups in response to the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two of the keyword phrases different from each other, each as specified in the specified one of the m request groups; (d) incorporate, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases specified in the specified one of the m request groups, wherein: each different one of the at least two different display lists comprises the received search results in response to the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising a different one of the at least two keyword phrases specified in the specified one of the m request groups, each same one of the at least two different display lists comprises the received search results therein in response to the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising a same one of the at least two keyword phrases specified in the specified one of the m request groups; (e) incorporate, by the metasearch engine, the at least two different display lists of received search results into a response for communicating to the client device; (f) communicate, by the metasearch engine, the response from the metasearch engine to the client device.
 44. The computer readable storage medium containing computer executable instructions of claim 43, wherein at least one of the received search results comprises information about at least one item that may be ordered, further causing one or more computers to: incorporate at (d) by the metasearch engine, means for inputting at least one quantity of the at least one item that may be ordered into each of the at least two different display lists that comprise the at least one of the received search results comprising the information about the at least one item that may be ordered the at least one quantity of the at least one item to be ordered to be input on the client device; incorporate, at (e), by the metasearch engine, into the response for communicating to the client device means for executing on the client device another request to be activated by the user for ordering the at least one quantity of the at least one item that may be ordered.
 45. The computer readable storage medium containing computer executable instructions of claim 44, which further comprises the other request activated by the user on the client device for the metasearch engine to order the at least one quantity of the at least one item, the other request comprising the input inputted by the user onto the client device into the means for inputting the at least one quantity of the at least one item to be ordered, further causing one or more computers to: (g) receive, at the metasearch engine, the other request from the client device for the metasearch engine to order the at least one quantity of the at least one item; (h) process, by the metasearch engine, an order for the at least one quantity of the at least one item.
 46. The computer readable storage medium containing computer executable instructions of claim 45, further causing one or more computers to: (i) place, by the metasearch engine, the order with at least one server device on the distributed network and/or at least one third party for the at least one quantity of the at least one item.
 47. The computer readable storage medium containing computer executable instructions of claim 44, causing one or more computers at (d) to incorporate, by the metasearch engine into the response for communicating to the client device means for executing on the client device another request to be activated by the user for ordering the at least one quantity of the at least one item that may be ordered, further causing one or more computers at (d) to: append, by the metasearch engine, at least one input element for inputting the at least one quantity of the at least one item that may be ordered to the at least one of the received search results comprising the information about the at least one item that may be ordered and incorporate, by the metasearch engine, the appended at least one input element into the each of the at least two different display lists that comprise the at least one of the received search results comprising the information about the at least one item that may be ordered.
 48. The computer readable storage medium containing computer executable instructions of claim 44, wherein the at least one item that may be ordered comprises at least two items that may be ordered causing one or more computers at (d) to incorporate, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases and causing one or more computers at (d) to incorporate the at least two items that may be ordered into any one of the at least two different display lists, further causing one or more computers at (d) to: sort, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the any one of the at least two different display lists according to price of the at least two items that may be ordered.
 49. The computer readable storage medium containing computer executable instructions of claim 43, further causing one or more computers to: incorporate, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases and identify, by the metasearch engine, the at least two different display lists with information that identifies which of the at least two different keyword phrases each of the at least two different display lists corresponds to.
 50. The computer readable storage medium containing computer executable instructions of claim 49, further causing one or more computers to: incorporate, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases and identify, by the metasearch engine, each of the received search results with information that identifies which of the plurality of search engines the received search results were received from.
 51. The computer readable storage medium containing computer executable instructions of claim 50, further causing one or more computers to: incorporate, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases and identify, by the metasearch engine, the rank of each of the received search results within each of the plurality of search engines that the received search results were received from.
 52. The computer readable storage medium containing computer executable instructions of claim 50, wherein the request executed by the user on the client device comprises a sorting order specified by the user that specifies the order of each of the search results to be returned in each of the at least two different display lists, further causing one or more computers to: incorporate, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases and sort, by the metasearch engine, the received search results in each of the at least two different display lists into the sorting order specified in the request executed by the user.
 53. The computer readable storage medium containing computer executable instructions of claim 43, wherein: at least one of the at least two different display lists comprises the received search results therein in response to at least two of the plurality of search queries comprising a same one of the at least two keyword phrases.
 54. The computer readable storage medium containing computer executable instructions of claim 43, further causing one or more computers to: open connections, by the metasearch engine, substantially simultaneously with the plurality of search engines and send, by the metasearch engine, the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two keyword phrases to those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified one of the m request groups.
 55. The computer readable storage medium containing computer executable instructions of claim 43, further causing one or more computers to: send, by the metasearch engine, the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two keyword phrases substantially simultaneously to those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified one of the m request groups.
 56. An apparatus for metasearching on a distributed network activated by a request executed by a user on a client device and sent to a metasearch engine, the request comprising m request groups, the m request groups comprising a plurality of search queries and specifying to which of a plurality of search engines each of the plurality of search queries is to be sent to, each of the plurality of search queries comprising a keyword phrase, each of the keyword phrases comprising at least one keyword, each of the m request groups comprising at least one search query of the plurality of search queries and specifying to which of the plurality of search engines that the at least one search query is to be sent to, at least one of the m request groups comprising at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries and specifying to which of the plurality of search engines that the at least two search queries are to be sent to and comprising at least two of the keyword phrases of the at least two search queries different from each other, wherein m is greater or equal to one, comprising: (a) a receiver receiving, at the metasearch engine, the request from the client device, wherein the request specifies one of the m request groups comprising the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two of the keyword phrases different from each other and specifying to which of the plurality of search engines that the at least two search queries specified in the specified one of the m request groups are to be sent to; (b) a sender sending, by the metasearch engine, the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two of the keyword phrases different from each other to those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified one of the m request groups; (c) the receiver receiving, at the metasearch engine, search results from those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified one of the m request groups in response to the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two of the keyword phrases different from each other, each as specified in the specified one of the m request groups; (d) an incorporator incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases specified in the specified one of the m request groups, wherein: each different one of the at least two different display lists comprises the received search results in response to the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising a different one of the at least two keyword phrases specified in the specified one of the m request groups, each same one of the at least two different display lists comprises the received search results therein in response to the at least two search queries of the plurality of search queries comprising a same one of the at least two keyword phrases specified in the specified one of the m request groups; (e) the incorporator incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the at least two different display lists of received search results into a response for communicating to the client device; (f) the communicator communicating, by the metasearch engine, the response from the metasearch engine to the client device.
 57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein at least one of the received search results comprises information about at least one item that may be ordered: further comprising, at (d), the incorporator incorporating by the metasearch engine, means for inputting at least one quantity of the at least one item that may be ordered into each of the at least two different display lists that comprise the at least one of the received search results comprising the information about the at least one item that may be ordered, the at least one quantity of the at least one item to be ordered to be input on the client device; further comprising, at (e), the incorporator incorporating, by the metasearch engine, into the response for communicating to the client device means for executing on the client device another request to be activated by the user for ordering the at least one quantity of the at least one item that may be ordered.
 58. The apparatus of claim 57, which further comprises the other request activated by the user on the client device for the metasearch engine to order the at least one quantity of the at least one item, the other request comprising the input inputted by the user onto the client device into the means for inputting the at least one quantity of the at least one item to be ordered, further comprising: (g) the receiver receiving, at the metasearch engine, the other request from the client device for the metasearch engine to order the at least one quantity of the at least one item; (h) a processor processing, by the metasearch engine, an order for the at least one quantity of the at least one item.
 59. The apparatus of claim 58, further comprising: (i) a placer placing, by the metasearch engine, the order with at least one server device on the distributed network and/or at least one third party for the at least one quantity of the at least one item.
 60. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the incorporator incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the means for inputting the at least one quantity of the at least one item that may be ordered into the each of the at least two different display lists that comprise the at least one of the received search results comprising the information about the at least one item that may be ordered, (d) comprises: an appender appending, by the metasearch engine, at least one input element for inputting the at least one quantity of the at least one item that may be ordered to the at least one of the received search results comprising the information about the at least one item that may be ordered and the incorporator incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the appended at least one input element into the each of the at least two different display lists that comprise the at least one of the received search results comprising the information about the at least one item that may be ordered.
 61. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the at least one item that may be ordered comprises at least two items that may be ordered and the incorporator incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases comprises the incorporator incorporating the at least two items that may be ordered into any one of the at least two different display lists, (d) further comprises: a sorter sorting, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the any one of the at least two different display lists according to price of the at least two items that may be ordered.
 62. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the incorporator incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases further comprises: an identifier identifying, by the metasearch engine, the at least two different display lists with information that identifies which of the at least two different keyword phrases each of the at least two different display lists corresponds to.
 63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the incorporator incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases further comprises: the identifier identifying, by the metasearch engine, each of the received search results with information that identifies which of the plurality of search engines the received search results were received from.
 64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the incorporator incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases further comprises: the identifier identifying, by the metasearch engine, the rank of each of the received search results within each of the plurality of search engines that the received search results were received from.
 65. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the request executed by the user on the client device comprises a sorting order specified by the user that specifies the order of each of the search results to be returned in each of the at least two different display lists, the incorporator incorporating, by the metasearch engine, the received search results into the at least two different display lists corresponding to the at least two different keyword phrases further comprises: a sorter sorting, by the metasearch engine, the received search results in each of the at least two different display lists into the sorting order specified in the request executed by the user.
 66. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein: at least one of the at least two different display lists comprises the received search results therein in response to at least two of the plurality of search queries comprising a same one of the at least two keyword phrases.
 67. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein prior to the sender sending, by the metasearch engine, the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two keyword phrases to the plurality of search engines, the apparatus further comprises: an opener opening connections, by the metasearch engine, substantially simultaneously with those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified one of the m request groups.
 68. The system of claim 56, wherein the sender sending, by the metasearch engine, the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two keyword phrases to the plurality of search engines, each as specified in the request executed by the user further comprises: the sender sending, by the metasearch engine, the plurality of search queries comprising the at least two keyword phrases substantially simultaneously to those of the plurality of search engines specified in the specified one of the m request groups. 